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The 


Personal Letters 




OF 


JOHN 


ALEXANDER DOWIE 




^fe 




COMPILED BY 




EDNA SHELDRAKE 








WILBUR GLENN VOL1VA 




Zion City, Illinois, U. S. A. 




PUBLISHER. 






COPYRIGHT 1912 

WILBUR GLENN VOLIVA 

AH rights reserved. 




©CI.A332357 



3$axmntb. 



A few men — of all the millions born in their day 
and generation — leave an impress upon their age. 
When one does this, it is the part of wisdom to mark 
such, study him, and note wherein he differed from 
the commonalty — for along this path lieth truth and 
progress. 

That John Alexander Dowie was such an one is 
conceded by foe as well as friend. 

To discover the inner springs whence a man's ac- 
tions flow, is to know the Man — and is rarely vouch- 
safed to his comrades along the way. 

The world first began to hear of John Alexander 
Dowie in Australia, where after receiving ordination 
to the ministry in the Congregational body, he repu- 
diated the organized church and became an Indepen- 
dent. He quickly assumed place as a leader in the 
fight against the liquor traffic, and in pursuance of 
his methods was arrested, fined, and served a prison 
sentence of thirty-four days rather than surrender his 
principle; stood for Parliament, was defeated by the 
liquor interests, founded a Free Christian Church, 
taught the doctrine of "Divine Healing," preached 
constantly and prayed for physical healing for many 
hundreds who testified to receiving the same, founded 
a Divine Healing Association, started a magazine as 
a vehicle of propagation, and when he left Australia 
for a world tour in 1888, he had gained many ad- 
herents to his religious faith and possessed a strong 
personal following throughout that continent and the 
Islands. Contra, he had made many enemies. 

After a few years on the Pacific coast in America 
he located near Chicago; then, in 1893, building a 
"tabernacle" just outside the World's Fair grounds 
— of so poor and flimsy a character it was dubbed 
by the press "an old wooden hut." 



FOREWORD. 

After a period of comparative inaction, he awoke 
over night to find his name known. The press ridi- 
culed and fought him. Incidentally, it told of cures 
being wrought. The big wooden structure became 
all too small to hold the crowds of sick and maimed 
and halt and blind — body-sick and sin-sick souls who 
gathered from every point of the compass and every 
stratum of society. Ever one indisputable fact ex- 
isted: cures were wrought. And the opposition of 
press, pulpit, medical fraternity, state and civic au- 
thorities were but avenues which spread abroad the 
new propaganda and recruited the ranks of John 
Alexander Dowie's following. 

His strong, pungent, denunciatory words and ag- 
gressive methods concerning the practice of medicine 
and surgery aroused the State Board of Health to ac- 
tion, in which they were defeated. The city author- 
ities then instituted action under the Hospital ordin- 
ance, causing the arrest of himself and wife on more 
than one hundred separate charges. 

He fought this fight, which lasted nearly a year, 
to a finish, winning success in the upper courts, which 
declared the ordinance under which the arrests had 
been made, invalid. 

From this time his rise to great power, influence 
and wealth was phenomenal. His following grew 
into the thousands, he engaged and rilled to over- 
flowing each Sunday the largest auditorium in 
Chicago, founded a church in 1896, sent out 
his paper and other almost innumerable literature 
from a printing plant which he owned and operated, 
bought a large downtown hotel as a "Home" and 
headquarters, rented another, established a college 
with full equipment and faculty, started a bank, es- 
tablished in America a new industry — lace making, — 
the machinery and lace makers being imported from 
England, and in 1901 founded Zion City, forty- 
two miles north of Chicago, which within a few 



FOREWORD. 

years reached a population of 8,000 people, all 
adherents of the faith and living under the rules and 
regulations prescribed, leases taking the place of the 
ordinary deeds to property — the land, 6,500 acres, be- 
ing "dedicated to God" and practically held in per- 
petuity, the talents of one of the best corporation 
lawyers in the country being expended upon these 
leases. 

About this time he made public .declaration to his 
church and the world that his mission was to "re- 
store all things spoken by the holy prophets" and 
that he came in "the power and spirit of Elijah," ac- 
cording to Biblical prophecy to do this. 

Millions flowed into his hands, and his power and 
activities multiplied. He spent himself prodigally. 
Besides his ecclesiastical, educational and political 
work, he kept his hand upon and gave personal at- 
tention to no less than thirty-seven industries, all a 
part of the Zion undertaking. Wide reaching plans, 
world-wide in their character, occupied his tireless 
mind. These embraced the Christianizing of China, of 
colonization in various countries, and questions of 
state which presidents conferred with him over, some 
openly, others secretly. He believed, with all his being, 
that a new order was to be ushered in. He preached 
a wide and all-embracing brotherhood of man, know- 
ing no distinction of race or color. He heralded a 
pure Theocracy, and gave that name to his political 
party. Though men may not have agreed with him, 
they reckoned with him. 

His life was often endangered, by reason of mobs 
and through secret agencies. 

John Alexander Dowie made application for citi- 
zenship in the United States, April 17, 1903. The 
oath of allegiance was administered by Judge Joseph 
Gary, the Nestor of the Illinois bar, who on this occa- 
sion added : "I think I may say, that since the days of 
the revolution this country has never had a better ac- 



FOREWORD. 

quisition, nor has a more wholesome citizen been added 
to the United States." 

At the zenith of his power and success, after a 
trip around the world, he suffered, in 1905, a stroke of 
paralysis, from which he never recovered. 

Financial clouds, which had been darkly hovering, 
assumed portentous shape, and on April 1, 1906, the 
management of affairs passed into other hands. 

The large property known as "Zion Estate," with 
value variously estimated into the millions, was im- 
mediately thrown into litigation. The contention, 
pro and con, has no place here. It is not, at this writ- 
ing, an interim of six years, yet ended. 

In the midst of complicated conditions in both 
church and finance, John Alexander Dowie passed 
away March 9, 1907. 

His mortal remains lie buried in a corner of a 
little country grave yard in Lake county, Illinois, 
within the boundary of the city he founded. 

These cold, bare facts constitute the skeleton of a 
life's history, made rich, glowing, palpitating with 
life, as revealed through the personal, intimate 
letters left by him. They tell their own story, and are 
given without interpolation or interpretation, this be- 
ing the first volume. 

In those long, last days, when disease had clouded 
his mind and battled for supremacy, the writer was 
associated with him almost daily. 

As the life forces visibly ebbed, the immortal 
spirit looked forth from the dim, sunken eyes, — clear, 
undaunted, triumphant, compelling. 

On one of these days he sent for me, and after 
some instruction concerning certain matters, his 
features relaxed and his closed eyes betokened sleep. 



FOREWORD. 

Suddenly opening them, he fixed his gaze upon me, 
and earnestly said: "Write — write, tell it." 

I shook my head negatively, but again he insisted — 
commanded: "Write, you will find some letters — 
I give them to you — they will tell the story." 

A few weeks after, he died. 

My work took me to another state, and in other 
scenes the incident passed out of mind. 

By a strange chain of circumstances, some 
months later I again found myself in Zion City, which 
I had never expected to see again. Without know- 
ing why, and against my judgment, I remained, 
month after month. 

Yielding one day to an impulse, without purpose 
or plan, my steps led me to an attic, filled with rub- 
bish and old papers. I sat down beside a heap and 
idly yielding to this strange whim, began turning over 
the piles of debris, fit only for the ash heap. It was 
there I turned to the light a number of old, yellowed 
letter press books. The peculiar hand writing at once 
arrested my attention. I recognized it as that of 
John Alexander Dowie, and turning to the inscrip- 
tions, found they were indeed the "letters" he had 
referred to, which, I now remembered, he had said, I 
would find, and which it was his desire should "tell 
the story." 

I gathered them together and preserved them, as a 
sacred trust. A few days later the attic was cleared and 
the rubbish burned. If there is any incompleteness 
in the story which these books give, it is no doubt 
due to my over-sight in rescuing them. 

Thus do I keep the trust imposed upon me, in 
the publication of two volumes, the first of which is 
here presented, and covers that period of his life pre- 
ceding his career in America. 

EDNA SHELDRAKE. 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS 

OF 

JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 



(Explanatory) 

But little is known of the ancestry of John Alexander Dowie. His 
father, John Murray Dome, with a younger brother, escaped a cholera 
epidemic in Alloa, Scotland, which swept away their father, one John 
Dowie, and other members of the family. 

John Alexander Dowie was born in Edinburgh, May 25, 1847, his 
mother being Ann Macfarlane-McHardie, a widow, who, previous to her 
marriage to him, gave lodgings to John Murray Dowie, then a youth of 
twenty, a tailor by trade. She was considerably older than he and is 
reputed to have been a woman of strong character, though illiterate. 

Certain facts concerning his birth led John Alexander Dowie in his 
later years {these coming to his knowledge only at this late date) to 
deny this paternity, and was the cause of a bitter estrangement be- 
tween himself and John Murray Dowie which lasted to the day of his 
death. 

A second son was born Nov. 29, 1849, and the births of both are 
registered in the same office as sons of John Murray Dowie and his 
spouse, Ann Macfarlane. 

Of his childhood, he wrote: "We were poor, I was often sick, my 
life being more than once despaired of. For some time before we left 
Edinburgh {which we did when I was thirteen) I was quite unable to go 
to school, partly because of the condition of my clothes, and partly 
because we Were preparing to go to Australia, and partly' because I Was 
still sick. / had a joyless childhood, for the most part, so far as cir- 
cumstances were concerned, and it was only my intense love for Cod 
and His Work ^ xal S aVe me an V J°V' I accompanied my good father 
as often as I could in his preaching journeys, taking long walks with him 
to Corgic and Hawthorne and attending the street preaching of Henry 
Wight, whose words first brought peace to my longing heart. Often 
did I long to be of service to the poor and miserable, and bitterly did 
I suffer from the consequences of the intemperance of some I dearly 
loved. This led me to sign the pledge when I was only six years old. 
I gave myself to Cod when a child, and although so poor and having 
so little opportunity for getting a really good education, I was diligent 

13 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

and obedient and people kindly helped me, lending and giving me good 
boofe, "which I read eagerly." 

Upon the arrival of the family in Adelaide, South Australia, the 
young boy at once went to work for his uncle, Alexander Dowie, who 
was then laying the foundation of what became later a prosperous boot 
and shoe business, and whose daughter he later married. For his services 
young John Alexander received his food and eighteen shillings per week- 

After a few months, he left to better himself, advancing from time 
to time and in various positions until while still in his minority he com- 
manded a considerable salary and was accounted a more than ordinary 
promising business man. 

At the age of twenty he left commercial pursuits, and took U P study, 
under the guidance of a tutor, to prepare himself for the Christian min- 
istry. 

After fifteen months tutelage he entered Edinburgh University as an 
Arts student, where he remained for three years, taking voluntary courses 
in the Free Church School. 

IVhile in the midst of study and Work ne la>as called home by a 
cablegram from his father, the reason being unknown to him. He soon 
found, upon examination of the books of the partnership firm of which 
his father was the senior member, that an assignment was inevitable. 

After the winding up of affairs, the young man, handicapped by the 
debt incurred in bringing him out from Scotland, set himself to his 
chosen life work — &e ministry. 

It was at this time he began to £eep the record of his correspondence 
which extends over the whole of his life, and at which point this volume 
begins. 

The first three letters are dated at Alma, South Australia, his first 
field of labor, May, 1872. 



My Dear R— : 

Yours of March 2nd reached me duly ; but I de- 
layed an answer until I could say something definite 
as to my position. 

The Committee of the Congregational Union passed 
a resolution in February last pledging themselves to 
support me in opening up a new sphere of labour in 
any part of the colony. This I declined. Then other 
representations were made to me in reference to vari- 
ous places, to none of which I felt any special inclina- 
tion and so spoke. 

Still undecided as to returning to Scotland or not, 

14 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

I came here towards the end of February on a visit to 
a friend. 

This place was without a minister. I was asked to 
receive a call and at first declined ; but eventually feel- 
ing that God's providence had been removing difficul- 
ties and clearly indicating my way, I accepted on 
April 1st a call to the pastorate of the Congregational 
Church here. At the annual meetings of Cong. Union 
I was admitted, on 16th, a ministerial member by a 
unanimous vote, and three days since, (21st), I was, 
in presence of a large assembly, publicly ordained "a 
minister of the gospel, in connection with the Con- 
gregational or Independent body of South Australia." 
Revs. F. W. Cox (Adelaide), J. C. McMichael (Gon- 
der), J. R. Ferguson (Salisbury), J. Gibson (Angas- 
ton), P. Barr (Turo), M. Williams (Kapunda), and 
W. Oldham (late Alma), all took various parts in the 
ordination service. 

Now you know the position to which God has led 
me, in ways of His own. 

My district is quite an agricultural one, divided, 
for the most part, into very large holdings of from 
one to four and five square miles of splendid land. 
Consequently it is sparsely populated and that popu- 
lation widely scattered. There are about 1,000 souls 
in 90 square miles. My central church is about two 
miles from the little post town called Alma and my 
house is two miles farther north, being twelve miles 
from the nearest railway station and about 60 miles 
north of Adelaide. It is a level country, bounded on 
the east by a range (I live in a gully at the foot of 
this range) and on the west by a dense scrub about 
25 miles broad, between us and the sea. North and 
south the country is flat. I have preaching stations 
at Lower Alma (Wednesdays), about seven miles 
south, Salter's Springs, about six miles north (Sab- 
bath afternoons and Tuesdays) and Dalkey Plains 
(Mondays) about 12 miles west The last named is 

15 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

being established. The others, with my central work 
at Alma (Morning School and twice on Sabbaths 
and meeting on Thursdays) are fully established. God 
gives me the most cheering tokens of success. The 
people are above the average in morals and intelligence. 
There is only one wine shop within ten miles on every 
side, and I have entered opposition against its license 
at the forthcoming Bench of Magistrates on June 10th, 
and hope to be successful. My health is better than 
for the last five years. I have much time for study. 
Preparation for four original sermons every week (six 
sermons are preached by me weekly in full work) and 
keeping up in certain studies fully occupies me. 

I have furnished my house nicely and God has 
provided me with a model housekeeper — a person about 
50 years of age, a widow, no children, of quiet, lady- 
like ways, a good cook and a prudent manager. 

Whenever you visit South Australia I give you a 
hearty invitation to come and spend some time with 
me. You can have a horse and scamper over all the 
country. I shall be right glad to see you. 

May you increase daily in Christ-likeness, exper- 
iencing greater peace and joy in the Spirit. 
Your affectionate friend in Christ, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



Dear Father and Mother: 

This is the first letter written from my house — I 
shall soon doubtless get to feel it is my home. 

On Wednesday evening after writing to you I rode 
to Joseph Smith's farm and opened my Lower Alma 
Plains preaching station. It was a terribly stormy night 
— wind, rain and darkness — and yet there were about 
twelve persons present. I firmly believe it will be one 
of my best stations. 

16 




As a young man at the beginning 
of his ministry. 




As Pas-tor in Sidney. 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

I got home about 10, thoroughly drenched — could 
not see my horse's head greater part of the way, midst 
heavy rain and hard wind. None the worse for it all. 
On Monday morning I brought up Mrs. S — and took 
her first to Mr. F — 's where she had dinner, and in 
the afternoon drove her here and left her for my meet- 
ings. I only came back this evening and have now 
taken up my abode and getting all my books, etc., into 
order. 

Mrs. S — will, I think, suit me well. She takes to 
her work and the place generally. I trust this is truly 
a good housekeeper from the Lord. 

Last evening there was no church meeting and 
only three at evening meeting. Probably I will come 
down on Wednesday. 

I am very tired and can scarcely hold my pen. It 
is 2:30 a. m. Good morning. God will guide. 

Love to all. 

Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



Dear Father and Mother: 

I am a little uneasy not having had any letter from 
you for more than a week. I sincerely trust that you 
are all well. Please tell me how matters are going 
with you every way. Do not, if anything is adverse, 
keep me in suspense; because it prevents any action 
on my part of a helpful nature, until the matter is 
over, and that is not right. 

As I already told you, I think, Angaston and Truro 
were not very satisfactory nor profitable to God's work 
as far as I could see. Many little things occurred 
which were painful to me. It is anything but pleasant, 
when one's mind is realizing deeply the value of perish- 
ing souls, to walk into a brother minister's room and 
find, item : one bottle brandy, one decanter wine, (get- 
ting low down), one tumbler (with sugar standing by 

17 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

and spoon in tumbler) and three or four wine glasses, 
evidently used; and more, a brother minister lying 
back in an easy chair, legs crossed, hands folded, head 
reclining, face flushed, talk quick and thick at inter- 
vals, courtesy forgotten : "Ha ha ! Dowie, how are 
you?" And this man has only come ten miles or so 
of a pleasant drive across country to do the Master's 
work and seek the lost drunkards and pleasure seek- 
ers — the sinners perishing in Truro. And the work 
there seems, as also at Angaston and Kapunda, in a 
very bad condition. The Rev. R. L. Coward (fine, 
good old Christian and an abstainer) with whom I 
stayed, told me that there were not more than four 
regular hearers at Mr. Barr's, out of the township of 
Truro, and there seems to be a population of at least 
two or three hundred there. 

But I could write for a day about it. The result 
with me is to cling more firmly than ever to my own 
way of working, looking only to God for clearer light 
and help. May He enable me to do so incessantly, 
humbly and prayerfully, and actively. 

Last evening, Sabbath, a man of about thirty-five 
from Salter's Springs was in my room here for several 
hours under deep conviction of sin. I trust the Spirit 
is leading him into rest in Christ ; in fact, I believe 
it is so. Drink was one of his besetting sins, and I told 
him he must, before God, forever renounce it. His 
name is in my pledge book. 

There are many painful discouragements, but the 
work is going on, and will, if I am only faithful. Love 
to all. 

Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Tmo months later — /u/p 5th — finds discouragements in nett field.) 

Dear Father and Mother: 

Many discouragements, — or are they encourage- 

18 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

ments? A month ago, when writing to you, I said 
they were, and that Paul thought so; and now, al- 
though I have felt bowed down under them, if I am 
preaching, by God's power, people into the church — 
and this blessing is given me — there can be no doubt 
that, in the process, I am preaching some out. 

My church here has been cruelly neglectful from 
the beginning, though I would not even to you say 
it, and now I fear there is something like open opposi- 
tion impending, on account of the too searching char- 
acter of my preaching. Dissimulation, wicked hypo- 
cricy and Pharisaic formalism have been unmasked; 
and only Divinely given wisdom can help me through. 

Details it would be almost impossible to give in 
a letter. Never have I felt more keenly, in all my 
life, anything like the anxious, sharp sorrow that I 
have during these past few days. But, thanks to the 
Lord, I begin to feel now the consolation of His 
gracious Spirit aiding, enlightening and strengthen- 
ing me. All must be well. 

Conscious of my integrity (not that I claim per- 
fection of action, very far from that) I will not fear, 
though an host should encamp against me; for God 
knows my speech and action have been from a loving, 
earnest heart, for the welfare of the souls around me ; 
and my most searching examination fails to show any- 
thing in either contrary to the Word of God (I speak 
regarding my feelings and actions in my ministry) nor 
can anyone even allege the opposite. My only fault 
is too great faithfulness and diligence — not sleepy half- 
heartedness in preaching or action. So they seem. 
But I know full well that I shall never attain to the 
honour of such a charge being wholly true, while I 
thank God it is partly so ; for if ever I worked for Him 
it has been here. 

Thursday evening was appointed for my church 
meeting, before which at my house here is held the 
deacons' meeting. Mr. F — is now sole deacon. 

19 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

There were only two members of the church pres- 
ent. I quietly announced to them that, there being 
no quorum, no meeting could be held. 

Doubtless all this must appear very sudden and 
puzzling to you, especially as I cannot trust myself to 
details just now. It cannot appear more so to you than 
it does to me. It seems a perfect mine of evils sprung 
in the midst of the nominal church here. Oh, how it 
has perplexed and grieved me. 

But in the midst of all, I have the cheering tokens 
of God's blessing among the unsaved in all parts of 
the district under my ministry. Of members of my 
church there are some, I trust, thoroughly sound, 
while of those Christians attending and being evidently 
most deeply interested there are men who would doubt- 
less stand by me in the event of any wicked attempt 
by an unfaithful majority in the church — not to speak 
of worldly men whose souls seem attracted by the 
truth. But in all such supports is not my trust. "My 
grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made 
perfect in weakness." These words of God strengthen 
me. For weak in myself indeed do I feel ; but I feel 
I am right, and therefore strong in God. His promise 
can never fail. Now do pray for me. I value much 
your sympathy and fervent prayer to God for me. 

And now I scarcely like to tell you of what hap- 
pened to myself on Wednesday night, lest it should 
needlessly alarm you. But it is one of the many 
tokens of God's care which I am now receiving that 
I really dare not keep it back. Returning late from 
Lower Alma (roads awful, night very cloudy and 
dark) it was only safe to amble along at a little more 
than a walk. When nearly a mile or more from home, 
my feet seemed benumbed and cramped with the cold, 
and as riders often do when similarly affected, I took 
my feet out of the stirrups and let them hang loose 
for a minute. My horse was walking quietly and 
steadily, I had just replaced the right foot, when, sud- 

20 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

denly, something which I could not see caused the 
mare "Clem" to shy and bound some yards to the right 
side of the road. Of course with one foot out of the 
stirrups I came off, "flying"; but excepting a little 
shake, now nearly gone, there was not a single scratch 
to my body. Clem stood like a guilty thing, quietly, 
for the good part of a minute, but when I went to- 
wards her she set off at a trot which quickened into a 
half canter and in less time than it takes to write, she 
was off into the darkness. I followed down the road 
for some distance, soon saw my folly, and walked over 
dark paddocks and arrived home feeling my cup of 
trouble full — new mare and she lost ! In the morning, 
at daybreak, I dispatched Johnnie to Mr. D — 's for a 
horse to begin the search for Clem, but before he re- 
turned Clem was here. She had turned into Mr. Kel- 
ley's paddock, they found her there and sent her home 
to me; neither horse nor saddle was in the slightest 
degree injured. Today I rode her and found her bet- 
ter than ever. I can see now quite a mark of God's 
goodness in not letting me come home upon her. Had 
I done so, I had intended making a visit which, if 
made, would tonight only be a bitterly regretted 
memory. No fault in the horse. But my gratitude for 
life perserved is great to God. 

It is a long time since you had so long a letter, I 
think. Tomorrow I hope to hear from you. Love to 
all. 

Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



{Sept. 25th — moved to action by havoc wrought through intemper- 
ance.) 

Dear Father and Mother: 

I enclose 14 pounds, which is almost every penny 
I have, to meet bill due tomorrow. If you can get 
Murray's people to retire it for me, I shall probably 

21 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

pay the balance, 11 pounds, within a week or two, for 
I have 12 pounds due for second quarter now ending 
of "Union" grant to church here. 

This comes very hard upon me just now and causes 
me to be in debt for various small current accounts — 
store, butcher, blacksmith, etc., which brings a con- 
sciousness of "owing," very worrying. Economical and 
careful as I am, this is one of the things which "ought 
not so to be." 

However, I will doubtless get through, though de- 
pression is more present than hopefulness, I must 
confess. I trust there will be no difficulty made about 
retiring the bill. 

It is very uncertain whether I shall be down at 
half yearly meetings of the "Union" or not. If I do I 
have fully made up my mind to table the following 
notice of motion for the annual meeting in May, 1873 : 
"That this Union deeply deplores the great evils re- 
sulting from the licensed traffic in intoxicating liquors ; 
and earnestly calls upon all members of associated 
churches to endeavour, by every private and public 
effort within their power, to diminish and eventually 
suppress so man-destroying and God-dishonoring a 
trade." You know that I have for years past deter- 
mined to work from the inside of the church, for the 
most part, in regard to that worse than slave trade. 

The time has come for action. What could possibly 
be gained by delay? I am sick at heart with the cool 
indifference with which the church regards great 
moral evils, such as this traffic produces. 

I foresee something of the obloquy which would 
be heaped upon me by the worldlings inside and out- 
side of our communion ; the sneering satire of "youth- 
ful enthusiasm"; the trimming and time-serving ob- 
stacles which for years might hinder the passing of 
such a resolution; and the insinuations as to seeking 
public prominence, etc. 

Shrinking from such an ordeal is only natural. But 

22 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

when I think of the mighty moral forces which the 
destruction of that fearful trade would liberate for the 
destruction of ignorance, crime, disease, insanity and 
destitution ; when I think that the cutting of that one 
cord would undo a thousand more of Satan's weaving 
— surely that would be a triumph — the grace of God 
which bringeth salvation. 

Drunkards "clothed and in their right minds;" 
homes made happy; children cared for, clothed, fed, 
and seated in the house of God — surely the Saviour 
would become more precious were these blessings 
brought about by the instrumentality of the saved — 
the true Church of Christ. 

Effects beyond the most uncontrolled imagination's 
power to conceive are bound up in the salvation of 
even one soul. What mighty hindrances have we re- 
moved, now absolutely preventing the salvation of 
thousands, when we even partially crush this traffic. 

It is worth bearing, were there a hundred fold more 
to bear than will have to be encountered. Quickening 
power from God and the conversion of thousands may 
be looked for by the church when it goes out against 
the mighty social evils which Satan has established, 
of which, none can dispute successfully, the Liquor 
Trade is one. 

My work is moving slowly along. All the energy 
of mind and body and soul which I can apply scarcely 
moves the lethargic souls around me, few as they are. 
I trust God will give more grace and manifestly bless. 
During the last week or two I have been frequently 
feeling unwell. The season is very trying. I hope 
you are well in every way. Love to all. 
Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 

23 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OP JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 
(Nov. ]st — resigns from his first charge — resignation accepted.) 

Dear Father and Mother: 

Yours of Wednesday received. This will find you, 
I hope, quite well. 

Mrs. McD — brought the helmet today, and the 
vegetables, etc., for which I thank you. The helmet 
was too small, but, with some sharp stretching, I have 
managed to wear it today. It is a very nice one, and 
the cover is especially neat. On such a hot day as this 
has been, it was most welcome. 

Today I have made three visits and ridden probably 
more than thirty-five miles, four or five hours being 
spent in the sun, at "Nellie's" best speed. 

Last night's experience of Alma has quite filled up 
the measure of my discontent; and my mind is now 
fully made up to leave. 

Only think, usual service and monthly church 
meeting announced: How many present? 

Two men, who were camping out on the road near, 
whom I invited, Mr. D— , Mr. F— , Mr. McD— and 
my boy Johnnie — six in all. Fancy, a full service and 
discourse, and my riding five miles, and losing three 
or four hours, besides the preparation time. Only 
think of the church — two members ! It would be a 
sinful waste of my life, when so many would gladly 
hear elsewhere, of my time, and of whatever talent 
God has given, longer to use (or abuse) them thus. 
Spiritual results are utterly disproportionate. God 
cannot bless, apparently. 

And besides, material results are utterly disgrace- 
ful. Since April 1 to October 28, (leaving out my 
February and March labour) my church has raised 
36 pounds and, including some received from Home 
Mission, 58 pounds, which magnificent sums have not 
even paid my expenses. Surely, after this, it would 
be monstrous to delay — it will be utter ruin, almost 

24 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

every way, to my efficiency. Into the hands of God 
I put it all. 

Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



Dear Father and Mother: 

Yours of 4th duly received. 

I write this early this morning at a time when I 
am very weary, after a day's hard riding in visiting and 
a long night's conversation with the McD — 's. 

Were it not that you are doubtless anxious for this 
letter, I would really defer writing. As it is I shall only 
give you the two most important events on Thursday 
night, leaving a long account of details (D. V.) until 
Tuesday. 

The following is my letter of resignation : 

"Alma, December 5, 1872. 
To the Church of Christ, meeting in the Congregational 

Chapel, Alma Plains. 
Dear Brethren and Sisters: 

After much anxious consideration and prayer for 
Divine guidance, I have determined to relinquish my 
office as your pastor; and now, therefore resign it into 
your hands. I propose that this take effect on Sab- 
bath, December 29th. 

It is with much regret that this decision has been 
arrived at. My hopes in accepting your call have not 
been realized; but I can only view this result as of 
God's appointment. 

I shall ever feel the deepest interest in your spiritual 
condition, and that of the people amongst whom I 
have here laboured for the Redeemer. 

In all your future movements, I now earnestly im- 
plore the direction of the Lord by His gracious Spirit. 

When this time of probation has merged into the 
eternity of bliss purchased by Christ's work for our 

25 



THE PEKSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

souls, I trust there to meet you where pain is unknown. 
Until then, may "the God of peace make you perfect 
in every good work to do His will." 

I am, faithfully yours in Christ, 

John Alexander Dowie." 



This letter I laid upon the table, after conducting 
all ordinary business, and retired. 

The following resolution was the only formal de- 
cision of the after meeting. It was moved by Mr. D. 
McD — , seconded by Mr. G. F — , and carried unanim- 
ously: "That this church hereby, with profound sor- 
row, accepts the resignation of the Rev. John Alex- 
ander Dowie as pastor, such resignation to take effect 
on Sabbath, December 29, 1872. The church desires 
to express their very high sense of his ministry in the 
Lord to them, most reluctantly accepts his resignation, 
and earnestly prays that God would bless him in all 
his future work, abundantly crowning it in the salva- 
tion and strengthening of many souls." 

The above comprises all the formal results of 
Thursday evening's meeting. Informally much was 
said before and after my retirement from the meeting, 
which I am too tired to venture upon writing now. 
This at least seems clear, that financially, nothing from 
them is to be expected. 

Tomorrow I hope to hear from you. I hope you 
are well. Love to all. 

Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(NeV) field at Manly Beach, near Sidney, Nen> South Wales — writes 
friend under date Dec. 3, 1873.) 

My Dear Friend: 

Since writing to you on November 22 I have re- 
ceived — indeed only yesterday — your letter dated Nov- 

26 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

ember 18; and though time is by no means plentiful 
with me, yet I wish to let you know how things are 
on with me here. 

I was glad to get a letter from you — the first since 
leaving — and to know from it that you were well, and 
that, so far as you could then see, you were likely to 
have a good harvest. The grasshoppers are becoming 
yearly a serious source of danger, and it is only by, I 
suppose, a good supply of grass provided for them that 
they condescend to hop past the wheat. But what 
when grass is scarce? 

There seems, in prospect of a dry season, to be 
serious grounds for apprehension, owing to their in- 
creasing numbers. 

I am sorry that from oJier causes the crops in 
many places will fall short. But I am quite sure that 
what is g ; yen will be far in excess of the deservings 
of the reapers; for God never deals out to us the full 
deserts of our sins, nor rewards us according to our 
transgressions, either individually or nationally. We 
are, however, so used to His overflowing bounty that 
we demur and bitterly complain, as if wronged, when 
He checks its superabundance. 

How foolish and wicked that is! Yet it is a folly 
of which thousands are daily guilty, and that folly is 
also the basest ingratitude. Every moment comes 
laden with God's goodness to all men, and that whether 
they are just or unjust, yet not only does it pass on- 
ward laden with human indifference or repining, but 
only too often with sins of deepest wickedness through 
man's misuse of God's gifts, and through his turning 
those gifts into engines of destruction. It amazes me 
daily more and more as I extend my actual knowledge 
of man, when I reflect upon God's forebearance and 
continued goodness to so rebellious a creature. Wher- 
ever I turn the same facts continually meet me — in 
myself and in the world of men around me — there are 
mighty and rebellious passions continually leading to 

27 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

disobedience of God. And the struggle is so hard, 
needs such continuous watchfulness and strength — 
while too often there are friends within us of the 
enemy which from without assails us — traitorous de- 
sires that would have us surrender the fortress of our 
hearts to sin and Satan. Well may we sing in the 
words of the "bairn's hymn" — 

"My home is in heaven, my rest is not here, 
Then why should I murmur when trials appear? 
Be hushed, my sad spirit, the worst that can come, 
But shortens my journey and hastens me home. 

It is not for me to be seeking my bliss, 
And building my hopes in a region like this; 
I look for a city which hands have not piled, 
I pant for a country by sin undenled." 

Do you not find that the more you know of the 
Christian life leads you to see more clearly, to feel 
more keenly, the fact that "rest" is not here, that 
life for Christ is a journey onward, ever onward, a con- 
flict ever raging or impending, a scene where to live 
purely and Godly means often to live far from, out- 
wardly, peaceably; but with all that, is it not blessed 
to find that this is the path which Jesus trod, and 
every step the story of His life reveals to us as more 
painful and terrible than it can ever be to us, while 
His words come back to us as we journey on in these, 
His footsteps: "These things have I spoken unto 
you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye 
shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have 
overcome the world." And as these words of the 
Saviour, the Captain of our Salvation, come down to 
us they fall upon our listening ears like a soul-stirring, 
fear-destroying melody — sweet and strong, causing our 
hearts to chant back — "Yea, Lord, Thou hast over- 
come the world, and following Thee so may we — for 

28 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

'who is he that overcometh the world, but he that be- 
lieveth that Jesus is the Son of God?'" 

Yes, we can so sing, as we press daily forward, 
with calm, undaunted confidence, in the path which 
God appoints; and as one by one the Christian pil- 
grims sink and fall, to the world's eye just as others 
on its path, do we not hear the angel hosts of heaven 
re-echo our song in theirs, saying, "Write, Blessed 
are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth: 
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their 
labours; and their works do follow them." . . . 
These are glorious songs for such as we to sing and 
hear, they are among the songs of the redeemed, and 
among them are not we? 

By the way, you must tell me how you like Spur- 
geon's "Morning by Morning." There is a companion 
volume entitled "Evening by Evening," which you 
could probably get from some Adelaide bookseller 
easily, if you wished. 

Thanks, many thanks, for the way in which you 
write of the portrait which the sun drew of me in 
South Australia, for a photograph means literally "a 
thing drawn by the light." It is good for me to feel, 
when my heart is craving for some human sympathy, 
to remember you and such as you who do sympathise 
with and pray for me, that I may be kept faithful and 
blessed in the work of the Blessed Master. Often and 
often my memory recalls your face, your words, your 
deeds, and all the unuttered and perhaps unutterable 
desires you have had on my behalf — these things are 
"things drawn by the light," true photographs, upon 
my heart. 

Is it not astonishing when we place a photograph 
of a dear friend before us, look straight into the eyes, 
mark all the well known, hidden to others, expression 
which rests upon every part of the countenance, how 
memory after memory rushes in upon us, like a high 
spring tide filling all our hearts, and causing us to feel 

29 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

even a keen sense of pain as well as pleasure, com- 
pelling us sometimes to put the picture back again, or 
to turn away from so close a scrutiny? 

This often happens to me, and that with whom I 
most love. Yet, it is a pain which is only in many 
cases produced by too keen a remembrance of former 
recollections, which comprise a treasure of pleasure. 
Strange that pain and pleasure should be so inter- 
mingled 

From the enclosure in my hasty letter of Novem- 
ber 22 you will know the circumstances connected 
with my coming here; and to that I have only to add 
the fact that the work of Christ continues to prosper 
under my ministry. The church is rilled to overflow- 
ing with a most earnestly attentive audience every 
Sabbath, especially in the evening, — a Sabbath School, 
which I only organized three Sabbaths ago has con- 
siderably over 70 scholars on the roll, 11 of whom 
were youg men between 15 and 30 years old, who form 
a Bible-class. My people are very enthusiastic about 
their new minister, and I have been most honorably 
treated by my brother ministers, who have shown me 
every kindness, and welcomed me to their gatherings 
on a footing of perfect equality. Next Sabbath, I leave 
my pulpit here for the day, and preach in Sydney two 
sermons on behalf of Camden Congregational College 
funds ; and it is one of the good signs, that even for the 
day, the people are very unwilling to have me re- 
placed, even by one of our most successful city minis- 
ters. These things and many others, more indeed 
than I can put on paper, are very cheering, and every- 
thing seems bright and prosperous; the necessity for 
increased reliance upon God the Giver is more deeply 
impressed upon me. The frail tenure by which all 
human happiness is held can never be forgotten, I 
trust, by me; and often do I seem to hear the voices: 
"Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." 

There are indications of higher blessing, too, in 

30 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

manifestations of spiritual awakening among rich and 
poor, educated and ignorant, in this small community ; 
and while, of necessity, it is evident more in general, 
wide-spread desires after holiness of life, yet I am not 
without cheering cases of distinct decision. These 
have happened very recently. It is the Lord's doing, 
and marvelous in my eyes. 

I know how truly you sympathise with me in my 
work, in joy or in sorrow; and I say again, it does me 
good to tell you how it is with me, assured that I have 
your prayers for increased wisdom and guidance. 
Therefore, I have written. 

When I next write you I wish to give you a short 
description of the beauties of the natural scenery here, 
which surpasses everything I ever saw in my life — a 
sort of terrestial paradise; and I cannot help saying 
how much joy it would give me to see you here . . Now 
South Wales appears to me a very much finer country 
than any of the other colonies ; and the accounts which 
I receive of the interior lead me to believe that you 
can find in many parts of it almost an English climate 
for coolness, and an Australian one for clearness. 

I am invited to visit Bathurst, about 150 miles from 
Sydney, westward beyond the mountains, about the 
beginning of the year. A new Congregational church 
is to be commenced there and a large number are going 
from Sydney to assist at Ihe meetings in connection 
with the laying of the foundation stone. If I go, I 
shall be able to speak of the country as an eye witness 
and will tell you my impressions. 

You see what a long letter I have written to you 
with mine own hand. It is a pleasure and not a toil; 
and I could only wish that it was more carefully writ- 
ten. When I look over it, I shall be sure to wish I 
had written many other things; but it is quite impos- 
sible to please oneself in these matters. 

I hope soon to hear from you and meanwhile say 
good-by again, praying that the Almighty Father 

31 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

would guide you in all your ways, making you, by His 
Spirit, more fully to know and to follow Jesus Christ 
as your only Saviour and Eternal Friend; and 
I am, in Him, 
Affectionately your friend, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



{Three months later.) 

Dear Friend : 

You will remember that I promised more fully to 
reply to your last letter. 

Your account of affairs at Alma is a very saddening 
one; but just what my experience of those nominal 
Christians warranted me in expecting. 

It was quite clear to me, long before I left, that the 
institutions of a Christian church could not be carried 
out by those whose lives and actions exhibited nothing 
of, but on the contrary, were sometimes diametrically 
opposed to — Christ's life, actions and precepts. 

This is still my opinion, and, therefore, I deeply 
sympathise with you as a member of the church whose 
sole desire, I know, is to walk by our Saviour's own 
right line of life : for those most prominent in church 
matters, troubled by no such scruples, are only desir- 
ous to carry out their own will — crooked, ignorant, 
selfish and worldly as these wills are. Consequently, 
your power to do right in the church, seems to me to 
be only limited to a protest against wrong; and such 
protest it is your duty to make so long as you remain 
in fellowship there. 

God's way with sinners is known only to Himself. 

I would not anticipate His dealings ; but this I 
know, that though hand join in hand, yet shall the 
wicked not go unpunished. Only a true penitence, deep 
humiliation of self and faith can avert that stroke of 
Divine wrath. 

Christ's work in this city is in a sad state. Church 

32 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

going there is ; but a perfect malaria of spiritual disease 
with it, slow fevers of indifference and cowardice, 
leprosies of pride, hatred and vanity, burning fevers 
of money and pleasure seeking, and an epidemic of vice. 
'Tis a doubtful picture, I know, to draw; but falls far 
below the reality. 

There are doubtless many who have not bowed the 
knee to Baal, but, like Elijah, I don't see many of them. 

And oh, how powerless, paralyzed almost, I feel 
in the midst of it all ! Sometimes I feel I ought to cry 
out, but then again — almost literally — my mouth is 
shut. God has His time, I know, but I am tempted 
much to weary for its manifestation. 

It seems clearer that the British climate would be 
too severe for my constitution; but I have so deep a 
heart's longing to work there for Christ that it is try- 
ing, indeed, to acknowledge it. Then, if not there, 
Where? comes the question. My heart says "not 
here" ; and God has not yet made it clear. But I will 
not perplex either you or myself with that which I 
desire to cast in simple faith upon our Father's care. 

I shall expect some time during next week to hear 
from you. May the power and soothing sweetness of 
the Saviour's love be all your portions, making you to 
feel calmness and confidence in the midst of joy or sor- 
row, looking to Jesus, making you to gaze steadfastly 
through all the mist of time into the clear light of 
Eternity where He stands waiting to crown you — 
the Finisher of Faith. 

Affectionately yours in Christ, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Written to a young man whom he has rescued from drin^ habit 
and assisted, and at time of writing has position on newspaper.) 

. . . The paper does you credit in its way, though 
there is always a good deal of pettiness which will 
force itself into country papers. I am glad that you 

2 

33 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

have dropped the rubbish "poetry" from "Luck- 
now." I could imagine Carlyle pointing to it with a 
fierce chuckle. Do try and get your "cynic" — Dioge- 
nes or Antisthenes would not own him — to follow 
"Lucknow" into the realm of shades. Get some strong, 
pithy sense, in short, pungent, clear sentences, into 
your writing. Men have no time or patience with 
stupid rodomontade. You are engaged in very im- 
portant work. Go in hard for it. Give them glimpses 
into British social life in every way you can : for gen- 
erally speaking, colonials are dreadfully ignorant of 
these matters. Aim high in thought; but express 
yourself more and more in volleys of words which 
sweep low enough to hit the meanest capacity. Let 
a glorious sense of doing Divine work sweep all paltry 
ideas away and ever stimulate your endeavors. While 
writing, I am reminded of quaint old George Herbert's 
words in that wise old poem of his "The Church- 
Porch" :— 

"Pitch thy behaviour low, thy projects high; 
"So shalt thou humble and magnanimous be : 
"Sink not in spirit: who aimeth at the sky 
"Shoots higher much than he that means a tree. 
"A grain of glory mixt with humblenesse, 
"Cures both a fever and lethargicknesse." 
And now that I have the volume before me, I 
shall, for your edification and my own, quote another 
verse — greatly needed to be observed by all pen and 
voice preachers : — 

"Be calm in arguing: for fiercenesse makes 
"Errour a fault and truth discourtesie. 
"Why should I feel another man's mistakes 
"More than his sicknesses or povertie? 
"In love I should; but anger is not love, 
"Nor wisdom neither; therefore, gently move." 
These words will bear five minutes earnest reflec- 
tion, and we will be the better for getting them into 
daily realization. But ho! a truce to sermonizing! 

34 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

How easy it is to glide away into essay-writing in 
letter-writing. But it is not the most interesting, nor 
perhaps instructive way of writing. Let me ask you 
to look up friend Herbert, though. There is true piety, 
rich spiritual experience, sweet thoughts of Jesus and 
His love, and a deep, fresh, manly well of true and 
cool and clear Christian philosophy in his poetry. 
Take for instance his poem "Man." It is a grand con- 
ception, though oddly expressed. Read it, and tell me 
what you think of it. 

"Oh, mightie love ! Man is one world, and hath 
"Another to attend him." 

"Effectual calling," by God's gracious Spirit — it is 
a glorious doctrine — is a blessed experience. To 
Him be all the praise for His marvelous work in lead- 
ing you to accept the gifts of pardon, reconciliation and 
eternal life in Jesus. It rejoices me to know that you 
are growing in grace. Oh, keep very near to Jesus al- 
ways. Get down very often in prayer, and you will 
rise in power to do and bear His will in all things. 
O that we loved Him more, and looked to Him more 
steadfastly ! Blessed Lord, Eternal Saviour, Friend 
of sinners, Intercessor for us and in us, shed abroad 
the fire of sin-consuming love in our poor hearts ! 
Jesus, Lord, come quickly; visit us with reviving 
grace and power! 

May God bless all your scholars. Do you pray for 
your class daily, by name, and expect a blessing? 
What a joy, if God saves them, and by your means ! 
A Christian effectually called can always exercise, if 
he will, effectual fervent prayer. May God bless you 
in that work. Prepare well. Pray earnestly before 
going to teach. Let prayer be your spiritual atmos- 
phere. You will reap, not now misery, but the fruits 
of the Spirit, if you are willing. 

My work is steadily maintained. About 14 per- 
sons have become abstainers, within the last two or 
three weeks, and have signed my book. In other 

35 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

ways there are signs of God's presence; but how I 
long to hear of decisions for Christ ! No doubt we are 
being blessed, but God's promise is to bless us "until 
there shall not be room enough to receive." What a 
blessed time will come when we have faith to try Him 
with that promise ! 

I sadly feel that I want more room, more popula- 
tion, to work upon ; and cannot stay much longer here. 
Let us, meanwhile, do what lies to our hands to do 
with all our might. Keep up your weekly letter and 
do not be surprised if I am a little irregular. I have 
such heaps of work before me. 

May the Lord very graciously strengthen, comfort, 
guide and establish you in all your thoughts and ways. 
Ever yours in Jesus, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



{Oct. 29, 1874 — deeply impressed n>ith state of society about him — 
feels his own weakness.) 

Dear C— : 

Though I have neither married nor died — and 
sometimes it had been better to die than to marry for 
not a few sons of Adam — yet my delay is capable of 
explanation. I have been overworking, and have 
really not found time to write to you. All yours have 
duly reached me, and gladdened me. I look now quite 
regularly for your weekly letter. 

I am glad you had a good communion time and 
that Mr. W — seems to be growing in your esteem. 
Truly it is a glorious thing to know the oneness of all 
followers of Jesus, and I am increasingly desirous to 
manifest this practically. My present position, too, as 
Secretary of the "Monday Mid-day United Prayer 
Meetings" enables me to do this in some measure ; and 
I have also, in a fortnight's series of united evangelistic 
meetings, been able to bring together, in a work among 
the masses of Sydney, ministers and people of all de- 

36 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

nominations of Christians. The work has been blessed 
but has involved prodigious labour, and my presence 
and help for the greater part of both weeks. The awful 
sights and sounds which I saw and heard in the neigh- 
borhood of the Australian Hall, and elsewhere, have 
deeply impressed me with the conviction that there is a 
terrible amount of misery and evil in this city. The 
half could not be told of what is known, and it is my 
firm belief that not one tithe of the wickedness is ap- 
parent to the onlooker. In all classes there is a terrible 
flood of moral evil, and while men are discussing mere 
metaphysics on the one hand and mere externals on 
the other in religious matters, vast numbers of souls are 
hardening in vice and wholly slaves to bodily and cor- 
rupt passions. Nine tenths of infidelity in all classes 
has, in my opinion, its roots in immorality; for in- 
stinctively the human soul cries out for the living God 
until it is silenced by sins consciously opposed to all 
ideas of His purity, and only then does the fearful and 
guilty heart question God's existence, deny His laws, 
reject His Son, and flee from His presence. 

Therefore, to destroy all sin and infidelity, the 
Gospel of mercy and pardoning love, with its conse- 
quent life of Christian truth and purity must be 
pressed upon men in all conditions, as a complete pan- 
acea for all human woes and necessities. 

Smart telegraphy, snorting rail trains, delicious 
cookery, witty and silly literature, explorations into 
fossils of the earliest period, floods of lip talk, oceans 
of newspaper talk, with "news" — these things will not 
lead to more peace or joy in the soul. But a living, 
Christ-like love for an inward reality, and an outward 
unceasing self-sacrificing life of true charity will speed 
the day along the track of a Divine life such as would 
speedily solve all earthly problems, by carrying men 
away onward into such conceptions of the life beyond 
as would lead them to a more and more perfect life 
here. 



37 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Neither Caesarism nor Ultramontanism nor Ma- 
terialism nor any revised Ecclesiasticism in any church 
will ever raise the human family to a Divine life and 
true, loving unity. But true Christianity will; and 
before true religion can reach its power it must be 
freed from the sins in which social and political and 
even church organizations have bound it. A pure, 
clear, firm trust in the words of Jesus ; and a fearless 
and thorough endeavour to realize them fully, in every 
step and moment of the daily life — these principles 
must operate. But ere they can there must be, for the 
whole Church of God, a more thorough belief in the 
presence and power of the Holy Spirit — and no doc- 
trine and fact is at present less prominent than a 
simple reliance upon the Holy Spirit. The baptism of 
Repentance, rather than the baptism of the Holy 
Ghost, is too much insisted upon. And the recogni- 
tion that all true progress must be the work of the 
Spirit is most sinfully ignored or forgotten often times. 
When floods of spiritual light and life are poured 
down, in copious showers of quickening inward grace, 
upon the churches of Jesus, then shall we see sinners 
flocking to the Cross and finding pardon there — then 
shall we see saved ones bearing the Cross in all its 
glorious, attractive power, as the Banner of Liberty 
from all oppressions among all nations. Now, there 
are flocks of miserable creatures squabbling as to who 
shall carry, and how they shall carry, and when they 
shall carry, and where they shall carry, and for what 
they shall carry to a ruined and lost race the restoring 
grace of Christ's eternal power in His glorious Gospel. 
Is it not destestable? Who? All! How? In every 
possible form! When? Now and at all times! 
Where? Everywhere! For what? Nothing! — for 
Christ's people will, or ought to, see all Christ's fol- 
lowers, their brethren, fully supplied by a true and 
faithful, Christ-like communism in material things. 

Think of all these things, and pray over them. 

38 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

God will grant true liberty and comprehensiveness of 
soul, and fire your heart with the grandest and holiest 
aspirations, while you make His will your only guide. 
.... Of course you will be saying, what is really 
true — off again into a pulpit discourse. However, you 
know my frailty. Like Carlyle, a firm believer in the 
grandeur of silence, and yet at all possible times the 
most inveterate of talkers and scribblers. 

. . . . Oh, how miserably weak and empty of 
goodness and power do I feel! My heart fairly aches 
with its weariness and langour! God give me more 
strength and fill me with grace! My physical health 
is good, despite my having taxed it most severely ; and 
I am deeply grateful to God for this and His other in- 
numerable mercies. 

Now remember that you are ever in my prayers, 
that the Lord may protect and direct you in all your 
ways, ever enabling you to adorn the doctrine of God, 
your Saviour, in all things. Ever pray for me. Let 
us continue to fight the good fight of faith ; let us, amid 
fierce storms of fearful temptation, hold fast to Jesus. 

"And we, on divers shores now cast, 

Shall meet, our perilous voyage past, 

All in our Father's house at last." 

Never again shall we then mourn over sin-marred 
days. With sincerest love, 

Yours in Jesus, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Expresses views on Spiritism.) 

My dear Mr. L — : 

Enclosed I return the pamphlet on "Spiritism" 
which you kindly lent me. 

Permit me to say, in reference to it, that it is more 
ingenious than ingenuous, and deals with criticism 
most unfairly by withholding the main arguments. 

The trumpery stuff which is appended as illustra- 

39 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

tions of spirit manifestations, and especially the emi- 
nently silly "angelic ministrations," stamp the whole 
affair at once as foolish and unchristian — nay more, 
anti-Christian, from whatever source it proceeds. 

Now, I have striven for the greater part of my life 
to regulate my thoughts and words and actions by the 
teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, as I find them in 
the Bible. Therefore, I can experimentally testify that 
there can be no comparison between the two systems, 
Christianity and Spiritism : for separate and opposed 
systems they certainly are, and every day multiplies 
evidence of this assertion. Experience has proved to 
me, that there is one, mighty, omniscient Holy Spirit, 
and that there is neither need nor room for any other 
teacher and guide into the way of all Truth, than that 
Spirit who, to every faithful follower of Jesus, gives 
strength, purity, love and eternal peace all through 
life here, to immortality hereafter. 

When I find God's revealed will insufficient for my 
spiritual guidance; when I find nobler precepts and 
greater principles of truth than Jesus has declared; 
when there directly comes to me a more blessed Con- 
soler and Guide than the Spirit which daily "helpeth 
my infirmity" and teaches me how to pray, as well as 
pleads "with unutterable groanings within me" when 
I am weak and err, — then, and not till then — when I 
shall have lost all faith in the eternal and loving 
Father whom the Bible reveals — then I shall listen to 
these childish fables and devilish lies. Oh, what un- 
utterable misery is coming down upon this wretched, 
blasphemous, vicious, drunken, sin-cursed world of 
ours, by wandering away from a simple faith in 
Jesus ! His grand and yet tenderly compassionate 
words, His clear, unmistakable directions, and His 
atoning life and death here and intercessory reign 
above, are still, — not the Gospel of glad tidings, — but 
the words of "foolishness to them who are perishing." 
May God in His mercy grant us deliverance from the 

40 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

spirit of pride and disobedience and unbelief, which in 
manifold forms in still endeavoring to destroy all 
faith in Jesus as the Christ, and all belief in the direct 
accountability of man to God. 

I beg that you will consider these remarks as con- 
ceived in a kind and unpresumptuous spirit and that 
you will not for a moment consider them as inten- 
tionally disrespectful. I only mean them as a candid 
declaration of my views as a neighbor and as a minis- 
ter of Christ's Gospel, and my earnest prayer to our 
common God and Father is that He would bless you 
and yours, and lead you into an entire trust in Jesus 
and the Truth as it is in Him. 
I am, 
Very sincerely yours, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Feb. 25, 74 — discouraged, but refuses to retire.) 

Dear Father and Mother: 

A reproachful conscience, who can bear? He an- 
swers that he cannot, and therefore perforce has com- 
menced to write, though strongly tempted to put it 
off again : for he is tired and desirous of a little 
rest. But, doubtless he will forget it all as the pen 
and the mind and the stiff, unpliable hand gets used 
to their occupation. 

Your letters are always interesting; but they are 
always too short. You need patience. Writing is 
about as irksome to me as to you ; but I overcome that 
a good deal by persistent pegging away. Do write 
more fully. It develops one's own thought, and leads 
to greater facility and precision in the use of God's 
great gift to man — language. This you know, doubt- 
less; but by way of remembrance I find it necessary 
to stir up your thinking powers. 

Your remarks as to the contrast between the South 
Australian and New South Wales churches are, in 

41 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

the main, just; but attentive observation always re- 
veals special dangers and defects in all human sys- 
tems, which just leads up to the conclusion that in 
regard to all church organization, it is simply a choice 
of imperfections which is afforded us. I am more 
inclined than ever to maintain a very observant at- 
titude in regard to church matters here, and yet, of 
course, wish to be helpful as well as watchful, which 
is a desire difficult to realize. 

Absorption, if not identification, is almost a neces- 
sary consequence of anything like effective help, and 
in that case critical — I use the word in a good sense — 
observation is trying to the strongest mind. How- 
ever, I must try do do both. 

To think of "retiring from it all' is not what a 
Christian should say. Keble's verses often occur to 
me when tempted to think as you have expressed 
yourself : 

"I journey, — but no step is won; 
Alas! the weary course I run; 
Like sailors, shipwrecked in their dreams, 
All powerless and benighted seems." 

Then comes the revulsion : 

"What, wearied out with half a life? 
Scared with this smooth, unbloody strife? 
Think where thy coward hopes had flown, 
Had heaven held out the martyr's crown." 

We dare not think of retiring from it all, much 
less of doing so. What a terrible commentary upon 
that sort of thing is afforded by the history of Ply- 
mouth Brethrenism, American Shakerism, Roman 
Monasticism, etc. No, "let us not be weary in well 
doing: for in due season" — here and hereafter — "we 
shall reap, if we faint not." Old words, ever true. 

42 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

If W — comes, I shall have as little as possible to do 
with him, for in temperament and thoughts and 
church action we are an exact contrast — in fact I 
feel, antagonistically opposite; because it seems to me 
that it is just such men as he who hinder Christ's 
work, in at least some important respects,. In an 
earnest, restless, busy age, they are listless, lethargic 
and idle — sometimes obstructive. Let him at least 
not hinder. If he does, I for one will not have any 
difficulty in refusing to go into the traces with him, 
or any who are like him, for time will soon be all gone. 

Nothing is becoming more deeply impressed upon 
my mind of late than the principle of absolute non- 
reliance upon one's fellow men, no matter how good. 

It is well when I and others can thoroughly co- 
operate in any portion of Christ's work; but I feel 
that one must be ever ready to part company with 
even the most valued co-operator who strikes off to 
pursue some other path or plan in which we either 
cannot or dare not share. This feeling ought to draw 
us close to God, as workers together with Him, and 
thus cause us more fully to rely upon Him. 

The work of God in my church is still steadily 
progressing; attendance, notwithstanding very inclem- 
ent weather, is large on Sabbaths, and there must have 
been between sixty and eighty persons present at my 
meeting tonight, though it is a windy, rough night, 
and has rained heavily today. 

My health has not been all that could be desired. 
Pains in head and sleeplessness have caused me much 
trouble, and rather reduced me in physical vigor — 
making all study and pulpit work to be a very heavy 
burden sometimes. 

A most painfully interesting case is now occupy- 
ing much of my attention here : 

One evening, more than three weeks ago, I was 
walking alone through George Street, one of the prin- 
cipal streets in Sydney, from an anniversary meeting 

43 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

at Waterloo, near Sydney. A young man, very shab- 
bily dressed, came close up to me and in a voice which 
gave me a thrill of pain to hear, he implored me to 
give him money for food and a bed that night. His 
clear, Scotch accent and appearance at once impressed 
me, and I quickly discovered that he was an Edin- 
burgh man and that drink had caused his plight. Re- 
lieving his immediate wants, I gave him money to 
pay his fare to Manly on the Thursday — it was a Tues- 
day eve I saw him — when I would more fully talk 
with him and see what could be done. He came down 
here on the Tuesday and I asked him to tell me who he 
was and what his former position. It fairly astounded 
me, when he with tears replied that he was the young- 
est son — he is 26 years old — of the late Rev. C — , Edin- 
burgh, and that he had been a saloon passenger in 
the "Loch Lomond" to Melbourne which reached 
there September last; but that though he had got a 
good situation, he had fallen again through drink, as 
he had several times before at home. 

Ashamed and disgraced, he shipped as a common 
seaman in a vessel to New Castle, New South Wales, 
an American ship which, owing to contrary winds 
was about a month in reaching that port. There he 
could get no employment and sold his clothing, ex- 
cepting that in a bag, which along with his letters, 
etc., were detained by a lodging house keeper for 
money owing. Stowing himself away in a steamer 
sailing late at night for Sydney, he managed to get 
here and out of the steamer unperceived. But in Syd- 
ney week after week passed without his getting work, 
until for the first time he begged, and in that deepest 
depth of his degradation God had led him to me. Here 
he was fairly crying now, telling me that it was he 
who had broken his father's heart and caused his 
death, and that now even hope had almost completely 
forsaken him and that it was "too late." My answer 
was, "By God's help, no! We shall at least have a 

44 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

fight with the Devil for you, son of many prayers; I 
shall ask God to answer them and help you all I can." 
There and then I fed and clothed him — angels' work 
is sometimes given to man — and got one of my peo- 
ple to take him and keep him comfortably in return 
for God's blessing and the work he could do about 
the place. That day he signed the pledge and ever 
since has wholly abstained. 

Prayerfully penitent, he has now for more than 
three weeks given me every encouragement. Oh, how 
cunning and strong the demon is! but, "Greater is 
He that is with us than all that can be against us;" 
and in the Lord's name and strength we shall measure 
swords with this enemy of souls. In many ways my 
hands are full. Pray for me. May all needed grace 
be yours from a merciful and gracious Father. 
Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Writes to friend regarding the latter 's work-) 

.... The press has fast become — the newspaper 
press, I mean — so wholly secular that it is fast develop- 
ing into a foe to all that is sacred. It is so unsectarian 
that it often becomes unchristian and often anti-Chris- 
tian. It is so thoroughly devoted to material things, 
an intellectualism devoted merely to material and 
temporal things, that it ignores and sometimes de- 
nies the importance of spiritual and eternal things — 
it talks as if merely humanly framed economics and 
ethics were to be all mens guide, and as if Christian- 
ity were to be adapted to them, rather than that these 
sciences of mind should be adapted to the mind and 
will of Christ. Beware, O Press, or else the place 
which now knows you will know you no more ! Learn 
the awful responsibility which God imposes along 
with your power: for if your power does not run in 
the true rail tracks of Divine Direction, then you 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

are like a steam engine off the track, and rushing on- 
wards to depths unfathomable ! 

O John, my friend, do what you can in preventing 
a collision between the truth speaking Word of 
Christ, from pulpit or otherwise, and the press, — the 
newspaper press. I see both, in many places and na- 
tions, tearing along in opposite ways, not directly op- 
posite it may be always, — but across the line of truth, 
the press train is speeding. "Look out for the train!" 
is all I can say. You see, I doubt not, that my anxiety 
is to see you and myself on the right and true track, 
which is the only track, and which it is woe to us and 
yet more awful woe, if we willfully get off it. Let us 
remember, too, that all who aspire to be thinkers and 
speakers and writers are intellectual locomotives who 
have trains behind them — alas, some of us have only 
coal wagons and turnips attached, with here and there 
a man; and there are some (may we be among these) 
who have noble freights of men — ay, men in all classes 
— and they have attached themselves to said engines. 

Most men do not keep on think, think, thinking — 
they link on to some thinker; and puff, puff, puffing, 
away they go after him, liking the motion ! 

There is no doubt a great tendency in local papers 
to magnify the importance of local magnates and to 
throw them all sorts of little sops, and every now 
and then to wave as incense in their nostrils expres- 
sions such as "Most worthy citizen," our "Respected" 
or "Highly honoured" or "Greatly esteemed" or "Well 
known — fellow townsman." Get rid of it. It is the 
quintessence of snobism, prevents the use of thor- 
ough-going, wide-embracing writing, and the "store- 
keeper" and the "country attorney" element have the 
appetite of the horse leech and her daughters for this 
sort of flattery — and when it is with-held are greatly 
offended. Discontinue at once and forever, — unless 
you can get an entirely new language for local flat- 
teries alone 



46 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Do not yield to the depressing influences around. 
The robust, vigorous, thorough-going piety of our 
Scotch religious life is far more preferable; and with 
a little more of the sunshine of love, is by far the most 
beautiful I know 

The Lord has been very gracious to us, and con- 
tinues to give evidences 'of His presence and bless- 
ing. Yet there is not that evident result for which we 
naturally so long; but when I think of my sinful and 
unworthy heart, I wonder not. Oh, to be wholly true 
and faithful and loving! Mighty indeed is the Spirit. 
Oh, that we saw evidences of God's saving power 
among our perishing masses in all classes of society ! 



(/u/p 28, '74 — writes of his n>ork — deprecates sloihfulness in min- 
isters.) 

Dear Father and Mother: 

Yours of 13th duly reached me, and terminated 
all my fears as to whether my letter had miscar- 
ried. I am greatly pleased to find you are all well, 
and that you are beginning to write longer letters. 
This is written in good average health ; but after a 
very great deal of work, and, indeed, in the midst of 
work. However, work is pleasing when it is for 
Christ, and is still pleasanter when we know that it 
is not labour in vain, but manifestly owned by Him in 
its effect upon souls around. Humbling and self-de- 
stroying as all prosperity in the Savior's work is, it 
is calculated greatly to impress the worker with a 
solemn sense of God's presence ; and these things I 
have recently experienced. 

Everything is prosperous in outward things in 
my work, and increasing signs of deepening and 
awakening interest are seen on every hand. My work 
seems to be steadily consolidating and strengthening 
in all directions, and since it is for, and I trust with, 
Christ I labour, that is the greatest of blessings. 

47 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Since writing to you I have had much in hand, 
much anxiety, much exertion : for though I speak grate- 
fully of much blessing, it is scarcely necessary for me 
to say that there has been much difficulty and toil that 
is inevitable : for labour is the Divine road to all suc- 
cess. 

At the close of Monday I begin this letter after a 
very hard day and night's work, and trust to finish 
it tomorrow. When once the first procrastination is 
overcome, then I feel writing a relief; but it is hard 
to begin. However, after this rambling preface, I 
throw down the pen and give up the task for tonight, 
hoping tomorrow to write more pointedly and con- 
nectedly 

About my housekeeping: I am doing quite com- 
fortably, all things considered. My housekeeper's 
name is Mrs. Taylor; about fifty-five years old; a 
widow; tall, dark, strong and active, quiet and 
kindly in manners ; a good cook and laundress, 
economical in her ways. All these treasures are, so 
far as money goes, procured for ten shillings a week; 
and if I were a cynical bachelor (into which state 
teasing drives one speedily) I would say that it would 
take more than that to keep most wives in gloves and 
ribbons every week — to say nothing of gowns, and 
frills, and feathers, and flounces, and parasols, and 
bonnets, and boots, and laces, and scents, and 
brooches, and bracelets, and carpets, and a new house, 
and a servant, and a washerwoman, and perhaps a 
boy, and often a cat, and perhaps a nurse maid; and 
the awful prospect of being relegated to the smallest 
room in the house for a study, and an end to all book 
buying, and envious eyes noting the minister's wife's 
new raiment, with calculations of cost, and confident- 
ial communications of the minister's most private af- 
fairs, with notes as to visitors, and — well, what 
would all these things cost in money (which I have 
not), in peace of mind (of which I need more), in loss 

48 




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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

of time and influence (of which I have too little) ? 

Thus might the cynical bachelor (do not confound 
me with him if you can charitably help it) argue when 
driven to bay by a chorus of mammas, his own in- 
cluded. Let those who read try to understand. It is 
a painful truth, that many a true word is spoken in 
a jest. 

Were I to speak seriously about what, after all, 
is a most serious matter to all men, and especially to a 
minister, I would say that seeing "a good wife is from 
the Lord," I had better just keep on waiting until I 
can see some one clearly sent by Him in my way, and 
if no one comes, then so be it — and that is final. 
Therefore let mother just be content to leave it where 
I do, and not to let her loving desires for my welfare 
run counter to what may be the Divine plan. There 
are worse things far than "a tim hoose and auld ser- 
vant and a cat" : for a bad wife seems a gift from the 
Devil, and would make a hell of what might be a 
heavenly home — and a foolish, peevish, silly wife is 
only a shade less trying. In many ways, I am un- 
fitted for ordinary home life, and not merely my pres- 
ent habits of Christian action, but those which an 
altered sphere of labour would impose are not likely 
to be congenial to any one who had not the same 
mind, or at least the fullest confidence in the general 
course of my thinking and doing; and, I say it seri- 
ously, it would require to be one who made up her 
mind to leave the reins entirely in my hands. 

Am I at last clear; and will you kindly, therefore, 
rather aid me with your sympathy and prayers, than 
disturb me with kindly, most lovingly meant advice, 
which at present cannot possibly be taken? 

After all, this is of very minor importance to the 
great importance of my work for the Redeemer; and 
I ask you to pray that it may ever remain so to me. 

Poor Mr. White, I am sorry to hear of his illness 
and that the doctor says it is incurable. If any words 

49 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

of mine will cheer him, he shall have them ; and I have 
just entered his name in my diary for Monday next 
at latest. 

There is One "who healeth all our diseases" who, 
he knows, can most effectually cheer him, and on Him, 
doubtless, he trusts. 

Lately I have bent over several dying beds, and 
have seen "how sweet the name of Jesus sounds, in a 
believer's ear;" and more and more do I feel how 
precious it is to thrust Him, and how gloomy and 
cheerless it is to distrust Him. Weary and sad and 
labouring and sorrowing, where can the soul find rest 
but in Him who "wearily" sat down often in His toil- 
some journeys through a world which hated and 
scorned Him, Who bore our sins, carried our sorrows, 
bowed His head, poured out His soul unto death and 
wrought out by a life of labour and pain and by a 
death of ignominious shame, our redemption, our 
salvation ? 

He is the glorious Intercessor. He is the eternal 
Saviour, the continual Advocate; and His sympathy 
is as complete as His power: "For in that He Him- 
self hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor 
them that are tempted." And the old paraphrase comes 
sweeter and more consoling as all human help dis- 
appears, and eternity alone is before us, but the Sav- 
ious beside us: 

"In every pang that rends the heart, 
"The Man of sorrows had a part; 
"He sympathises with our grief, 
"And to the sufferer sends relief." 

And believing that, how comes it that prayer is 
restrained before God, and that the next words of the 
paraphrase are so little acted upon? If we cast away 
all garments of sin and weights which oppress our 
souls, then we can say : 

50 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

"With boldness, therefore, at the Throne, 
"We come to make our sorrows known; 
"And ask the aids of heavenly power 
"To help us in this evil hour." 

... As a specimen of W — 's way of looking at his 
work take the following as an almost verbatim report 
of a short conversation at the School of Arts in Syd- 
ney the other day, where we happened to meet. "D" 
represents myself and "W" our friend. 

After the usual greetings and inquiries for each 
others' health, the conversation proceeded: D. "How 
are you getting on with the work at Petersham?" W. 
"Oh, pretty well, fairly, you know. They have had so 
many changes, you know, and the population is thin." 
(He has four or five times the population to work upon 
that I have.) "It will take time." D. "I suppose you 
begin to see things improving?" W. "Well, a little, 
you know; but it will take time, a great deal of time 
and patience. I told the deacons when I came that 
it would take about two years to do any thing." 

At which wondrous exercise of faith and patience 
and Divine energy among dying men and perishing 
souls, I fairly collapsed. 

I cannot understand such a man. Coming to a 
church which has been under a well sustained minis- 
try for years, to a church fully constituted and ready 
for work, it amazes me. 

Had I looked at Manly in the same spirit, I would 
have fled from it in absolute despair; for here there 
was a small population, a congregation of about 
twenty-five, and no church, while the chapel had 
been, often inefficiently, supplied for ten years by lay 
preachers, and even now there is only one thorough 
old Congregationalist among the whole audience and 
workers. 

'Tis very sad to see this. And sadder still to hear 
the chorus of resounding praise over this mature, 

51 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

richly stored, powerful pastor! Doubtless the man is 
a Christian, but in him there are little enough evi- 
dences, to my mind, of the right sort of power at a 
time when the energy, the intelligence, the power, the 
position, the influence and the numbers of the Evil 
One's emissaries amazes the thoughtful Christian. 
Such men as W — have their place, and a most im- 
portant place, too, in the ranks of a church; but cer- 
tainly all the great qualities of a leader — strong faith, 
undaunted courage, catching, enthusiastic, passionate 
love for souls, keen watchfulness, quick decision, 
prompt action, hard-hitting, 19th century speech, and 
high, Christ-like, Pauline daring — these seem all want- 
ing in our friend, with a wondrous lack of tact and 
adaptation of the highest source, and a gradually ac- 
quired consciousness of matured-wisdom-talk and 
self-appreciation, which he was never born to, never 
acquired, but which has, nevertheless, been thrust 
upon him, and which he has naturally enough appro- 
priated. The Lord knoweth, and I know, how in writ- 
ing these words, I have neither conscious ill-will to 
W — nor any consciousness of self-gratulation in 
thinking of myself as possessing the qualities of 
which I declare him to be, for the most part, entirely 
lacking. Doubtless there may be many points in which 
he is, as a Christian and scholar, immensely my super- 
ior; but he is one of those ministerial sloths, I was 
going to say, and it may as well stand, to whom I 
have an instinctive antipathy, which is yet without 
sin, I trust. 

I feel sadly my shortcomings in the great 
and responsible position in which I stand; but, if I 
thought I appeared to many as he appears to me, I 
would relinquish my ministry without a pang tomor- 
row : for I would be clearly unfit. 

Really, I ought to apologize for my long digres- 

52 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

sion, but it seems inevitable that W — should always 
appear my ministerial bete noir — not the man, so 
much as his nature. 

Hodge's "Outlines" are highly spoken of, and you 
will greatly benefit by their perusal. Is it not sing- 
ular that the terms "System" and "Systematic Theol- 
ogy" are now so generally, and I think deservedly, 
disesteemed and therefore disused? It is a suggestive 
fact. "Outlines" seems a better term than "System." 
Please tell me what you think of Hodge as you pro- 
ceed. 

Archbishop Manning is very boldly taking up the 
gauntlet thrown down to him by Fitz James Stephens 
in the Review, and after answering him in the Romish 
way has, I see, assumed the offensive in an article on 
"Christianity and Antichristianics" in June issue. I 
most unhesitatingly say that Romanism has been 
greatly strengthened by German interference with the 
principles of religious liberty, to the full privileges of 
which all men may claim a right. Overt acts of force 
and conspiracy against civil liberty, from any source 
whatever, may be met by the firm execution of just 
civil laws ; but no civil law is just or right which in- 
terferes with conscience, and demands that I, if a 
theological student, shall study in accordance with the 
state enactment. That is what the great physical force 
tyranny of Germany has imposed; and it is a cruel 
wrong, and a sad blow to the spread of true Gospel 
light and liberty, since it gives an enemy of Gospel 
liberty a vantage ground which ought never to have 
been given. I have little hope of good in Germany 
until kingly and aristocratic and military tyranny shall 
give way to a truly national government, in which 
the corrupt Lutheran State Church shall have no 
political sway. 

Manning has seized his vantage, and fights with 
our weapons the cause of Romanism, and brings out 
the undeniable Divine truth which alone has kept 

53 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Rome alive, which is the most skillful way of weak- 
ening the attack upon his church, at a time when all 
men thought that the infallibility dogma and the loss 
of the temporal power had sealed its doom. 

Between German political tyranny and Roman 
Catholic ecclesiastical tyranny there is no choice — it 
is simply, at it were, a choice between Satan and Beel- 
zebub. God grant that Christ and His conquering, 
men and nation subduing, Gospel may prevail ! . . . . 

Surety this letter is long enough, yea too long, but 
it has been a pleasurable toil. 

May every needed grace be ever with you. 
Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Oct. 12, 74 — considering change of field — decides to remain in 
Australia.) 

Dear C— : 

The quiet evening hour has come, and I sit now to 
answer your last two letters, while the rain and wind 
and heavy swell of the sea outside all mingle in one 
moaning sound, as if the elements were weeping over 
darkened, ruined nature. 'Tis cold, dark, wet and 
windy without, and inside, though light and warm and 
quiet, yet my mind seems to sympathise more with 
the storm and darkness outside. How strange a 
thing is mind and its various moods. 

I have been doing a long, hard day's reading and 
have not once gone outside my door. Truly, much 
study is a weariness to the flesh, and there is no end 
to reading. 

What an awful age we live in ! 

When I look at the piles of unread literature even 
around me in this room, and the Himalayas of thought 
which lie within sight, I am saddened. Toiling wear- 
ily on, down in the valleys and then standing on some 
little hill, I get now and then glimpses of the Know- 

54 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

able, towering away in the distance like vast moun- 
tain ranges, even the base of which I feel as though I 
could not reach. Then what am I, and what can I do? 

A sense of ignorance, of sin, and of infinite un- 
worthiness so oppresses that I often feel so troubled 
I cannot speak aught but Hezekiah's prayer: "O 
Lord, I am oppressed, undertake for me." 

And then it is, — even while I write it is so — that 
the sense of oppression is removed and the darkness 
and mists o'er the path roll away, while from the 
Mount of Faith and Prayer I look upon the Eternal 
Hills from whence cometh my help and whither I am 
journeying — and oh, how glorious, how glorious it 
is ! Xenophon's weary army, after their long fight- 
ing in an enemy's land, suddenly came upon the sea, 
the broad, deep, still sea, and with a shout they 
rushed into its cool waters: so would I into that 
boundless Ocean of Eternal Love which is sometimes 
within my view. Meanwhile I must fight the good 
fight, and so must you; and then, by and by, will it 
not be glorious to rest by the "River of pure water of 
life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of 
God and of the Lamb?" Let us be men in Christ. 

... As to returning to Scotland, all is changed. I 
remain in Australia. Where, I know not yet. My pre- 
sent desire is to settle either in Sydney or Melbourne, 
and to leave Manly about the beginning of the year, 
by which time I hope our alterations and enlargement 
will be finished and paid for. I trust to be Divinely 
guided. It has been, in some ways, a great trial; but 
must be one of the "all things." I am in correspond- 
ence with Melbourne. Many wish me to remain here; 
but the way is not clear. I am waiting. 

I know the books of which you write. They are 
delicately and touchingly written, and present the 
most terrible pictures of child misery through par- 
ental sin, with a vividness and moving Christian 
pathos, which draws out one's heart insensibly; and 

55 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

before you can analyse your impression the fountains 
of emotion are touched, the tears flow, and now you 
see 'tis Jesus' love and sympathy which have been 
guiding the writer's pen until you, too, are ready to 
weep with her as you look upon the sins and sorrows 
of the city. 

Yes, it is a sweet and stimulating thought that we 
are partakers of Christ's holiness. But in the com- 
mand, "Be ye holy," implied in Matthew, 5 :48 and 
many other places, there are calls to perfection in that 
which we only now realize in part. It is of His own 
holy nature by His own Holy Spirit that we partake, 
in living by faith and love in Him always. 

Go on with a Band of Hope by all means, and try 
to interest others in aiding you. There is much trashy, 
but there is also much beautiful Temperance litera- 
ture. 

As to the Communion : I am often perplexed 
about the way in which it is viewed by Christians. Ex- 
treme views are dangerous here. The Via Madia 
seems safest. The ordinance is not an eucharistic tran- 
substantiation sacrifice, nor a useless optional 
ceremony. There is a deeply spiritual meaning; 
and the commemoration may be a very blessed 
time, when the union between the saved and 
Saviour may become more consciously blessed. 
The memory, and imagination, and reflection, 
and all the emotional powers, find fitting exer- 
cise at the Lord's table. Do not undervalue 
it. Strive to realize in it something of the depths of 
Christ's sympathetic love in view of His awful suffer- 
ings on that most awful of nights — the midnight of 
the world. The Romans and we begin the day after 
the midnight hour. The dawn of Christ's eternal day 
was in that darkest hour of human misery. Often do 
we realize that our brightest hopes begin, when all 
our human hopes seem to expire. At the same time it 
is true we must be in active and daily communion 

56 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

with Jesus in private devotion and in public devotion 
— adorning His doctrine in all things. 

About your question, "were not the sufferings of 
Christ complete in themselves?" That question shows 
a misapprehension of the meaning of the Apostle's 
words in Collossians, 1 :24. Christ's own atoning suf- 
ferings were complete in themselves; but He did not 
from thenceforth make the path which His followers, 
His Church, should tread in this temporal world, a 
path painless and sinless. The path is yet one of temp- 
tation ; the suffering still awaits all who will live 
godly; and the Christian has ever to contend against 
sins which would seduce or crush him. In all the 
sufferings of the Church (His body) even in its mean- 
est members, Christ (the head) feels the most perfect 
sympathy — even as when, say, our little toe is trod- 
den upon, our countenance at once expresses the pain 
our head feels, so in the highest spiritual sense with 
Christ. In every persecution of His members He is 
persecuted ("Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?") ; 
hence the sufferings of Christians for Christ's cause 
becomes "the sufferings of Christ." The whole of the 
age-long trials of the Church are "the sufferings of 
Christ," wrought out in the persons of its members; 
and in fact constitute the training and preparation of 
the Lamb's Wife — the whole redeemed Church — for 
the consummation of her union with her lord in that 
day which ushers in her eternal happiness. This is 
to me briefly the meaning of the passage .... 

The prospect seems fair and clear, and no dangers 
appear; but since we do not know what a day may 
bring forth, we can only watch and pray and labour 
on, leaving it all to God, whose wondrous forbearance 
and favoring love and constant guidance, call for my 
most perfect confidence and devoted consecration. 
When I have such an Advocate and Redeemer as Je- 
sus, such an Enlightener and Comforter as the Holy 
Spirit, and such a Father and God, ought I not to "be 

57 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OE JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

calm and free on any shore, since God is there?" It 
is at such a time as this that Lady Guyon's beautiful 
hymn recalls the wondrous fullness of God's thoughts 
toward us, and I have been feeling the third verse, 
lately, to be especially true: 

"While place we seek or place we shun, 
The soul finds happiness in none; 
But with my God to guide my way, 
'Tis equal joy to go or stay." 

This is, indeed, just as I am wishful wholly to feel, 
and so that I may be ready to say fully, "Father, Thy 
will be done," I say, (slightly altering Madam Guy- 
on's last verse) : 

"Therefore I will to God's Throne now repair, 
And plead in Christ I am no stranger there; 
From hence that love Divine shall come forth as my 

guard, 
And peace and safety become my reward." 

You will, I know, even while you read, pray that 
I may be faithful and fitted to do and suffer God's 
will in all things, and to find therein my highest pleas- 
ure. In any event, I shall need strength and wisdom 
for special trials soon. 

To go to Newtown is a most important step, should 
I be asked to take it; and should God place no hind- 
rance I feel I would be likely to go. It is next to Pitt 
Street in importance in the opinion of many. It stands 
in the midst of a rapidly increasing population, afford- 
ing room for the exercise of a many-sided ministry 
and church work. The demands for a high order of 
preaching, and yet for that adapted to a large work- 
ing population too, will call for special gifts and 
graces — when you remember that the young gentle- 
men boarders at Camden College, the theological 
students, with a highly cultivated professional and 
merchant class, attend there, and also that it is the 

58 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

only Congregational church among a population now 
numbering about 8,000 and rapidly increasing. 

The increase in pastoral and perhaps public work, 
will require a large increase of strength and adapta- 
tion in every sense. But if with all I have a united 
and loving people, throughout loyal to Christ and His 
truth, and having confidence in me; and above all, 
the sense that it is the way wherein God would have 
me to go, then, in that event, what can I fear? Surely 
God who leads will give me grace to follow; and 
surely God who calls me to feed, to lead, and guard one 
portion of his flock, will give me power to guide into 
the sweet pastures of Divine truth, courage to press 
on with the sheep through every danger and tempta- 
tion, repelling every assault of the insidious foe; and 
with patient love and wisdom to call the wanderers 
home, who are pining with hunger and consumed with 
thirst in the enemy's country, striving to feed on filthy, 
sensual, or empty intellectual husks, and drinking 
deep of the naphthaline rivers to which the enemy 
leads their wrecked souls. 

Again I say, I am desirous to be quite prepared to 
go or stay ; but I also feel I ought to say, if God make 
the way clear, I will not dishonour Him by any un- 
worthy fear. 



{Written to his father and mother — Dec. 10, '74; discusses political 
and religious movements — feels need of a T»ife.) 

. . . You ask about our United Religious Move- 
ments in Sydney, of which I am the clerical secretary. 
Well, we are in the midst of an election, and the most 
inflamed and bitter political passions are raging 
throughout the land, and in Sydney specially ; and I 
am sorry to say that ministers, and more particularly 
Congregational ministers, are fighting away, with 
"coats off," metaphorically speaking, in the thickest 
of the fray. 

59 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

When I tell you that it is a contest precipitated, 
first by a contest between the one half of the Legis- 
lative Assembly, the Government of the astute and 
able Henry Parkes, and the gambling, horse-racing 
Governor in consequence of which the House was 
dissolved after the Governor escaping severe censure 
by the Speaker's casting vote only ; then, second, that 
it is embittered by the action of two "Leagues" — one 
of which defends in toto the present Public School 
System, and the other of which wishes to abolish it, 
so far as would be necessary in introducing a system 
of education which would be "National, Secular, Com- 
pulsory and Free ;" then, third, when you know that 
Irish and English Orangemen and Irish Papists, and 
Roman Catholic and Episcopalian Clergymen and 
Non-conformist Ministers are, along with the usual 
herd of political harlequins, clowns, assassins and 
quacks, all making as much noise as their lungs, and 
as much mischief as venom-tipped tongues and pen 
can create — when I tell you that all this yelling pande- 
monium is in full force now in Sydney, you will not 
wonder that there are many who do not feel they can 
come on Monday to the calm, mid-day hour of sacred 
prayer and communion and conference in reference 
to Christ's Kingdom and perishing souls. 

There is much that is most painful in the con- 
troversy; and many ministers of our own body who 
have pleaded want of time to attend to prayer meet- 
ings, ministerial conferences, and evangelistic services, 
have found plenty of time for months past to stamp 
and talk on political platforms, far away into the night, 
in and around the city and suburbs. 

I do not wish to press in an unduly hard way upon 
brethren; but while the Christian Church is so cold, 
and the world with its education and vice so aggres- 
sive — while Christians are pining for food, and the 
Christless masses, leprous in their social condition, 
are dancing and laughing in their chains of infidelity, 

60 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

immorality, frivolity, indifference and greed — while 
the wailing cries of perishing souls are ringing in our 
ears from the passion-tossed sea of human despair — 
while the young are sliding away from the church to 
the world, it is time that those who ought to be keep- 
ing the waning light bright should awake to a sense 
of their neglect. My firm conviction is, that at this 
time the cunning Tempter has thrown ari Apple of 
Discord into the race of Christian runners, and I, for 
one, am asking of God grace to run onward, convinced 
more and more, as I am, that the solution of all social 
problems of ignorance and sin is to be found in Christ 
alone — in loving Him and all men, and in living to 
Him by bringing all men the Truth which can alone 
truly free men from all oppressions — from the oppres- 
sions of Ignorance, of Hatred, of Fear, and above all 
from the chief of all oppressors, — Self — sinful Self. 

I could say much, but writing is too clumsy a ve- 
hicle for expression and takes more time than I can 
devote, in defense of the faith that is in me in this 
matter. Meanwhile, it seems best to keep out alto- 
gether, for some time to come, from public expres- 
sions on this matter, so far as I am concerned. 

The Church of England are holding this as a week 
of special mission services in and around Sydney, and 
I am looking with interest to see with what apparent 
results, though apart from that I feel it must be 
blessed, when I consider the truly pious men who 
have to do with it. I never was less inclined to Epis- 
copacy and English Churchism; but I never so ad- 
mired .Episcopalians before. They compel your ad- 
miration by their simplicity and truly evangelical ac- 
tion, and the apparent purity and elevation of their 
motives. Of course there is a ritualistic set, but they 
are very weak, having both Bishop and Dean against 
them, and there is a sort of rationalistic element 
which bitterly opposes the evangelicals, and which 

61 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OP JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

is ranged just now under the banners of the Education 
League. 

. . . Ministerial freemasonry, and all other sorts of 
freemasonry, are abominable to me; and as for the 
secret jealousies and whisperings you mention, I have 
some evidence that they exist. But I have learned a 
lesson : it is useless and noxious to follow a polecat 
into its hole; for the creature, when heated or en- 
raged, emits, it is said, an intolerable stench, while 
even dogs will not eat their flesh. 

Neither will I, unless it be absolutely necessary, 
follow the whisperer and slanderer into their loath- 
some darkness : for they, too, emit a vile stench. Let 
them be. Let my life give the lie to the backbiting and 
insinuating tongues. Let my words be sound and 
timely and loving speech. Let my work go on un- 
interrupted by frivolous defenses against frivolous 
talkers. 

I cannot complain : for I receive honor and rewards 
enough, even now, in all my poor endeavors; and, if 
someone does wrong, let me take it patiently, answer- 
ing softly as far as in me lies. God is my judge, and 
not man. Let me live rightly in God's sight, and then 
indeed will I find, through loving obedience, the 
blessed experience that "He doeth all things well". 

May God give me grace to remember and do as I 
now write, and to pity and try to save even the human 
"polecat". 

I am glad you are happy in working for Jesus, the 
Christ and Lord. I am, too, with all my longings and 
cries and tears on account of sinful self. Surely He 
will bring us quite through. But do not let us be un- 
just. I am afraid, dear father, you were when you 
wrote "all men are after self". It reminded me of 
David's words, "I said in mine haste all men are 
liars." Truly that is our temptation and infirmity, 
when we, like him, are "greatly afflicted". 

But the charge is not true. There are multitudes 

62 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

who have not bowed the knee to the Baal of Self; and 
many are, just as we, fighting against the enemies of 
their souls. Why, to many whom you and I meet in 
our daily paths, we may appear selfish when we are 
only timid, and, looking back upon my past, I can 
see that to be clearly true. No, there are many who 
love us unselfishly. 

We are amid many who would gladly respond to 
that sympathy which foolish timorousness locks up 
within our breasts, with patent locks of Fear and Mis- 
trust, in iron safes of cold and selfish Isolation. By 
many a bedside, in stately house or lowly cottage, 
would our sympathy and firm hope in Christ bring 
hope to the hopeless ; and to many a weary muck-rake 
toiler would we be blessed, if with the hearty tone of 
blessed cheerfulness, we said, "look up man, look up !" 
and perhaps he might see "Jesus" written upon our 
brows, and, looking higher, see Jesus Himself in all 
His beauty. And oh, if it were so, never again could 
he see in the muck-rake of commerce, with its sticks 
and straws of earth, that beauty which he saw in Jesus. 

Let us be unselfish enough to brave possible mis- 
representation in our endeavours to make a way for 
Jesus to the sinner's heart, and, depend upon it, we 
shall look more lovingly on all around, and find them 
look more lovingly on us. 

You speak of the approaching reopening of our en- 
larged and improved church. It will take place on 
Sabbath, December 20th, and 22nd we shall have a 
tea and public meeting. The Rev. John Graham will 
preach morning and evening on 20th (I supplying 
Pitt Street;) and the Hon. John Fairfax will preside 
at the public meeting. I wish it were all over. A 
minister never feels the need of a wife so much (ah, 
I hear you laughing at me, mother,) as when there 
are tea-meetings and kindred enormities afoot. If I 
had a fit of nightmare just now, I should expect the 
"horrors" to assume the shapes of cups and saucers 

63 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

dancing upon attenuated legs and leeringly charging 
me with an innumerable number of teaspoons, while 
buns and cakes and sandwiches and plates of butter 
came flying at my head in every direction, and hissing 
teapots puffed up and down, while hot water ran in 
every direction around my feet, and shower baths of 
tea came from above — while, to crown all, a chorus 
of mammas and maidens pouted and cried "shame!" 
in fashionable, musical discord. 

Oh, tell it not in Gath, else the Philistines will re- 
joice ! If only the dear creatures in Manly, who have 
"engaged" me, at least six times, to widows and maid- 
ens of all sorts, could look over my shoulder now, it 
would be such fun. But I am like Aesop's frogs, who 
appealed to the boys who stoned them, calling out, 
"what is fun to you is death to us !" 

There is only one way out of the difficulty, — as the 
foxes who had tails were told by one who had lost 
his in a trap but who had convinced them of the su- 
periority of being tailless — "Only one way to be as 
handsome as I : off with your tails !" "Ah," you say, 
"just the opposite, it is adding a tail." Well, never 
mind, if I live I am afraid I will prove the auld maid's 
saying true, and "gang the way we've a' tae gang." 

Seriously, though, I am now feeling that if I am to 
settle in New South Wales or elsewhere, I ought to 
marry, and if I do, I mean to. "Now that is plain," 
you say. "But who?" How can I tell? "But do you 
not know?" No, I do not know; but the Bible tells 
me that "a good wife is from the Lord," and since I 
want a good one at all risks, I will ask the Lord to 
send her to me. 

Of course, if one is looking out for the answer, one 
may see her coming. Perhaps, if like Isaac when 
sitting by the well Lahai-roi (the well of the quicken- 
ing-vision), I get up, and in the eventide walk out 
into the fields to meditate, I, too, may on lifting my 
eyes with their quickened vision (they will need to 

64 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

be washed with the waters of Lahai-roi) — I too, may 
see "the camels coming," across the lonely fields of 
my bachelor life. But my Rebekah, alas, is closely 
veiled, and even if I see the camels I cannot see her. 
You see, I have been studying Isaac's story. 

Strange coincidence, though, that the poor fugitive 
Hagar should find that God pitied her at probably 
the same well of quickening as that where Isaac sat 
meditating or praying just before he arose and found 
that God had pitied his loneliness and sent him a wife 
to comfort him for the loss of his mother. Ah, but 
Rebekahs and Isaacs are scarce now— even the names 
are found to be unfashionable. 

Now are you not — I am — amazed at the length of 
this letter, all written during twelve hours, of which 
it has occupied a good part? The weather was hot 
in the morning, so I thought I would write, and in the 
afternoon it rained, so I thought I would keep on, and 
between the two, I have been at home all day and 
produced this. Getting weary towards the end, I see 
that the end is seriously funny, but the letter as a 
whole is seriously serious. 

Dear parents, pray for me. It is a relief to chat 
away to you freely with the pen for an hour or two; 
but it is a joy beyond all to think you ever pray with 
and for me. Here below I trust we shall yet meet, but 
hereafter and above we shall, if we truly trust wholly 
to God in Christ. May that trust deepen, widen and 
heighten, till it fill all our souls with a glorious con- 
fidence of the regenerate children of God, who never 
die. . . 



(Dated at "Devonshire House" Newtown, Sidney, Nov. 25, '75 — 
tells of his love for his cousin Jeanie — maizes plea for her — argues against 
blood relationship being bar to marriage.) 

Dear Father and Mother : 

Since my last I have received one short letter from 

3 

65 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

you, written in very laconic fashion, but containing 
some very interesting items and news — one item being 
of very painful interest. 

I sympathize very deeply with H — and A — in their 
great disappointment, for I had quite looked forward 
to being an uncle long ago, and my hopes were re- 
vived by your information of some months since. It 
must be a great sorrow to them, and I trust they have 
carried it to Him who can alone mitigate its bitterness, 
to Him who bore their sins and carried their sorrows, 
and who can lead them to dwell forever where sorrow 
and sighing cannot enter. I, who am alone as to hu- 
man near ties can feel for them. God has made us not 
for solitude, but to be set in families, and when by 
reason of special trials and disappointments we dwell 
in silent lonelihood in our homes, there are few sor- 
rows heavier to bear. How our hearts long for some 
perfect, visible love and sympathy ever seemingly 
denied, — nay, it is only deferred, and its fullness shall 
be realized hereafter in purer, sweeter forms than was 
possible to us here. 

They still have each other, and though it is a trial 
to be almost promised a great gift and then lose it, 
yet love remains and these trials borne together make 
love stronger and purer. 

Not so with me. I am alone as to such a 
love, and perhaps it is destined by God that I 
should ever remain so. It may be, yea it is, His 
way, so far as I can see, to draw me closer to Himself, 
the Source of Love, and to find in His work objects 
of love which shall lead me to look forward to the life 
hereafter for the realization of my longings in pure 
and perfect scenes of heavenly intercourse. . . Hence 
my soul strives to enter more into loving, faithful 
union with God in Christ, and praying for more of His 
spirit in my heart, I trust to be upheld and led out at 
last into the light. There are grand and glorious 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

enterprises needed on earth for the reclamation of 
men in the glory of God, and to these I must with 
more entire devotion give myself and all my powers. 
It may be God may have more comfort here for me 
even in human love than I can now conceive to be 
possible. 

But, however that may be, I must not allow human 
trials to crush me, and by God's grace I must do my 
part as bravely as I can. Last night I was greatly 
comforted and strengthened preaching from the text 
which has been in my mind with special force all day. 
It is in that glorious Song of Deliverance which Isaiah 
composed, on the occasion, probably, of the destruc- 
tion of Sennacherib's army, and the raising of the siege 
of Jerusalem and the invasion of Judah. Doubtless, 
too, it is a Messianic prophetic song, and, indeed, it 
was so applied by the Jews themselves in after ages. 
Then we may surely use it. 

For does it not become us thus to rejoice when 
God's "anger is turned away" and when He strives to 
"comfort" us? The words on which I discoursed, and 
which have given me much comfort are : — 

"Behold, God is my salvation ; 
"I will trust, and not be afraid." 

Oh, how God comforts ! How good He is to me 
today ! My heart has been made very sore — yea it is 
sore now — but amid my tears of sorrow, I see the rain- 
bow of God's eternal love spanning the heavens with 
brilliant hues of hope, and though dark days may come 
when the rainbow of promise is not so clear, yet I pray 
that then I may still be able to say — "I will trust and 
not be afraid." 

Last night after my service three or four persons 
were waiting to speak to me concerning various mat- 
ters, and one came home with me for a few minutes. 
When I had finished my business with him (it was a 
case requiring much care and has given me a good deal 

67 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

already), the house felt very hot and close. 

Outside it was cool and pleasant, so feeling a quiet 
walk in the starlit night would do me good and help 
to soothe my troubled mind, I took my hat and walking 
stick and went out, not intending to call upon any one. 
The road I happened to take led me by Mr. Clark's 
house, and seeing the door open and a light burning, I 
went in. I found Mr. and Mrs. Clark were both out but 
was welcomed by Mrs. Clark's mother — an elderly lady 
who lives a mile or two from here,and who occasionally 
has attended my ministry. She was quite alone — only 
a servant being in the back premises. I sat down for 
a minute or two, and spoke to her about her family and 
then ventured to make some few remarks to her about 
her spiritual condition, to which she only made at first 
a very slow response. Let me here say I had attended 
her daughter frequently upon her death bed — a very 
fine Christian young lady, who died last year. I was 
about to rise and go, when she suddenly made an ob- 
servation which induced me to remain, and soon I 
found she was in a very deeply anxious state of mind. 
She told me she had long wished to see me, for she was 
deeply concerned about her soul's salvation and longed 
to realize peace with God. So then we had a long and 
interesting conversation, and having been myself so 
comforted by trusting and not fearing, I found that the 
Word of God was dwelling in me just then with power. 
I especially impressed upon her the Saviour's own ex- 
hortation — -"Be not afraid ; only believe" — and the ef- 
fect of our quiet talk was marvelous — verily, it was the 
Lord's doing. She said, "I will trust Him and not be 
afraid ;" and we knelt in prayer and told it to God. . . I 
left her, Mr. Clark had not then returned, and wended 
my way home full of heartfelt love and gratitude to 
God that He had not only comforted me but another 
who had been long seeking; and with her last words 
ringing like quiet joybells in my heart, in beautiful har- 
mony with the stillness and the starry sky, — "God sent 

68 



THE PEKSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

you, sir! God sent you!" Was it not true? I asked 
myself. How could I doubt? Every little circum- 
stance surrounding the scene convinced me it was true ; 
and something of the awe of Jacob, the wanderer and 
lonely, friendless man, came into my heart, which ages 
ago came into his when he, wakened up from his dream 
under the eastern sky, exclaimed, "Surely the Lord is 
in this place, and I knew it not !" 

I, too, then shall raise here in a pile my strong griefs 
and call that pillar an altar of sacrifice in my Bethel. 
This little incident has cheered me and since it has been 
much in my mind this morning, I have been impelled 
to narrate it. God is good. 

And now I can imagine you are somewhat surprised 
to read all that I have written as to my sadness and 
pain of heart, and wonder why I do not tell you plainly 
what has happened. Well, I really do not see how I 
can keep it from you, and yet I do not know how to 
tell it. Even now I feel strongly tempted to tear up 
all I have written and not add to your troubles any 
anxiety about me. But yet you are my nearest and my 
sorrows are yours, and I will not longer hide my sever- 
est trial from you. I do not see how it will help me to 
tell you, but it will at least relieve you and me from 
something: you from suspense and surmise, me from 
bearing the burden quite alone. I know on paper it 
will look very little, and perhaps you may rejoice, or be 
inclined to, at things being as they are — but it is a 
matter great beyond expression to me and a very griev- 
ous affliction just now and for I know not how long, 
perhaps ever. Do try to look at it from my point of 
view, and give me your sympathy and counsel. 

Well, it dates back, in its beginning, to nearly three 
years ago. I had the — shall I call it misfortune? — to, 
what the world calls, "fall in love" with my cousin 
Jeanie, and I must confess it bothered me for not a 
little — unused as I was to it — until I found out the 
nature of my complaint. 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

But what was I to do? I was in a whirl of mind 
and blamed myself severely. But that did not alter the 
matter. Our relationship, which in theory I had al- 
was considered a bar to any marriage, I now found 
a practical difficulty, and other difficulties — how she 
thought, how uncle and aunt thought, my unsettled 
condition, etc. etc. Still all these difficulties did not 
remove the stubborn inward fact, that I had gone and 
lost all I had to give of true first love to any woman. 
I did not say much, I felt I must wait, indeed, I never 
told her. But a circumstance occurred where I thought 
she was running into danger — Henning's Ball — and I 
spoke and wrote to her about it, in the letter "letting 
the cat out of the bag" — in plain language, telling her 
my action proceeded from a very deep and special care 
for her welfare and herself. 

That letter was not well received, I feared it was 
too plain my affection was not reciprocated, and there- 
fore I pressed on the correspondence with Sydney, 
and left Adelaide in less than six weeks from that time. 
My hope was, that distance and time and other asso- 
ciations might work a cure, and hence I hurried away, 
too proud and too pained to try again or to thrust my- 
self upon her, yea, and caring too much for her to wish 
her to do or say anything not spontaneous, for true 
happiness must depend upon mutual and equal love. 
I came here, threw myself into work for God, finding 
in that my only happiness and care, but as time rolled 
on and friends increased I did not find, though some- 
times I fancied, my thoughts regarding her substan- 
tially altered. Indeed, my anxiety to absorb myself 
in work, and to crowd my hours of home solitude with 
occupation or to find it outside, caused me to neglect 
my health, and my spirits were often very low. Hence 
my illness of last year and my sudden trip to Mel- 
bourne. This affair was indirectly the cause of 
that illness, which was much more serious than I was 
willing to confess to you. Well, I returned, threw 

70 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

myself again into work, pushed on my extension at 
Manly and cheated myself with a vain illusion of an- 
other love at the end of last year (but that soon van- 
ished, a good deal to my pain for a while, but now I 
see it was for the best, for it was only a beautiful, 
transient, desert mirage.) 

However, I again pressed on in work, concluded 
that at Manly, accepted Newtown at the beginning of 
the year, wrought on and on all through these nine 
months, feeling my home and heart loneliness as to 
human love more acutely than words can tell, know- 
ing how much better a man and minister I would be 
could I only get from God that great gift, a good wife, 
and making it a matter of prayer and frequent thought. 
Of course I was brought into circumstances which led 
me to see much of many young ladies, any of whom 
would have made me a good wife. But I need scarcely 
tell you that in this matter choice is not a mere matter 
of reason, and that there is reciprocity which must 
be ascertained, and which one does not care to 
do until one is stimulated by stronger motives 
than mere curiosity — a course of conduct which I call 
heartless trifling, likely to produce much sorrow. 
Toiling along here, I get from you intelligence that 
uncle and Jeanie are coming, and when I received a 
telegram from Andrew telling me they have started 
and asking me to meet them on arrival, I do not know 
whether I felt more glad than sorry. 

Anyway, now they were coming, I felt my only 
course was that which our relationship and my affec- 
tion dictated, namely, to invite them to stay with me 
and to do all I could to make their visit agreeable. 
One determination I made, that I must in no wise re- 
new my attentions or make any proposal to Jeanie un- 
less I saw plainly some reason for encouragement, and 
then after the most candid talk with uncle. Most 
firmly did I keep this resolve until Monday evening 
last, the night preceding their last full day with me. 

71 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Then uncle, being very weary, retired early, and 
Jeanie, who had been with me to our prayer meeting, 
sat chatting with me. Now though we had never be- 
fore spoken a word to each other about our old inter- 
esting and painful little episode, yet it was quite ap- 
parent to us both that it was in our minds. I, how- 
ever, wished to act with most scrupulous fidelity to 
uncle, and though I had ample opportunity, I had 
until now never used it to ask her how she was 
disposed toward me. For instance, one whole day — 
Thursday last — Jeanie and I were away together for 
the day up the Paramatta River by steamer over the 
Domain there and back here by train in the evening — 
uncle keeping at home owing to his suffering from a 
scorched face. On the particular evening to which I 
now allude it all came out between Jeanie and I, and 
that without the slightest premeditation on either 
side, I am quite certain — indeed almost before we 
were both aware we had glided into it, and quite as 
much was she to blame as I, if indeed there were any 
blame to be attributed in the matter, — if there is, I 
am willing to bear the whole responsibility. It came 
out through our comparing notes upon our conditions, 
and we found we were both free, which was apparently 
a little surprise on both sides. From that came out a 
reference to my letter two years ago, which she kindly 
and frankly acknowledged now was quite right in its 
advice to her. 

Then we naturally, and on my part too quickly 
for my judgment to pass more than a very hasty ap- 
proval, glided on to the deep question underlying 
my letter, and as to whether we loved each other. I 
told her just what I have narrated to you in substance, 
and she told me that, though she had not thought of 
it as much as I, yet she knew she cared very much for 
me, and could wholly, as she ought in such a case as 
being my wife implied, but for one fact, that we were 
cousins. This was the substance of what she said. 

72 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Of course this barrier of relationship has) been, 
throughout, the great one, and yet, is it a real one or 
only a seeming one? is the question I ask myself. She 
feels it to be one, and so did I ; but that was more the 
result of nameless fears, owing to feelings which I 
cannot find such real grounds for in reason and in fact, 
as I could in many other marriages not open to this 
charge. This was the one obstacle, and it had evi- 
dently been impressed by someone or other upon her 
mind with an almost superstitious shadowy dread. We 
found no other difficulty. I believe she loves me, and 
I do her with a strange intensity, not the growth of a 
day, or with passion like a beardless boy's or a fool's 
devotion. We parted for the night, and I do not know 
which was the most sorrowful — it was a strange woo- 
ing — I only know that for some time before and since, 
sleep has been difficult and, but for God's love and 
goodness, work would have been impossible. 

In the morning I arose early. Uncle and Jeanie 
and I had promised to go down the harbor in a steam 
launch for the day and Jeanie was too unwell to come 
down to breakfast. Uncle had to go in to Sydney, and 
was to meet us at the wharf ; and after he went I found 
how Jeanie had been crying bitterly about it all. We 
had a little talk about it again, and I asked her to allow 
me to speak to uncle, but she asked me not to. Event- 
ually we agreed that she would think over it all, and 
then when she got home, she would write and tell me 
whether I should write to uncle asking his consent. 
Thus deciding, we went with the party for the day, 
being driven into town in the barouche of one of my 
deacons whose wife and some of my Newtown folks 
and others accompanied us. Wednesday — yesterday 
— morning came and they were to leave at half past 
four in the afternoon. I stayed here to see the luggage 
sent off and to attend to some pressing duties, and 
they left here about eleven o'clock, I arranging to say 
good-by on board the steamer. I was very sad, and 

73 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWTE 

premonition of more sorrow was shading my mind, 
when I went to see them away. When I got to the 
steamer, and after having said good-bye to some 
friends who had come to see them, Jeanie and I went 
aside, at her request, and had some talk. Then she 
told me that after leaving me that morning, uncle 
asked her if I had said anything to her, and said he 
knew about my old letter. 

She told him I had, and what she had promised to 
do — write when she got home and so forth. Upon 
this he expressed his disapproval of the matter, as be- 
ing wrong between cousins, and told her she must 
write at once and tell me that it could not be. She pre- 
ferred to tell it to me, and did so in this conversation. 
That is all. 

And now what can I say? So far as I know, this 
will exercise, now more than ever, a most important 
influence upon my future, though it would be quite 
premature to say in what particular ways. One thing 
has been growing clearer and clearer, that however 
easy it may be for any person in private life to live 
singly permanently, it is, as society is at present con- 
stituted, a condition full of vexations and difficulties 
for a minister of the Gospel, and interferes with the 
thorough discharge of his duties. Now you may say, 
"There is no reason to realize the supposition, for you 
may yet marry some one else." 

I do not think so, and I think I know myself better 
than you can. 

In almost any other position my condition would 
be comparatively easy to what it is now, for often it 
is almost intolerable, and that in ways impossible to 
express in writing or even in speech. Then at my age, 
and with my temperament in these matters, it is dif- 
ficult to conceive any likelihood of a different disposi- 
tion of my affections. 

Had this visit not revived my love, it is possible, 
and indeed not unlikely, that my strong conviction 

74 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

of what was necessary in my work might have led me 
to seek, and possibly to secure, a pious and intelligent 
Christian young lady of my acquaintance, who would 
have made me a good wife, I am sure. But seeing what 
I do now more clearly than ever of my own heart's feel- 
ings, that is now impossible. Hence the question is 
of vital moment to me. 

Now here is the point at which I ask your sym- 
pathy and counsel, and, if you could do anything, 
your help. 

When I began this letter to you, it was with the 
full intention that it should be quite private, and with- 
out desire that other eyes shoul look upon it. But 
now, when I begin to consider how you could aid me 
in this vitally important matter, it occurs to me that 
it might best be done by a calm conference with uncle 
upon its subject, and by showing him this letter, as a 
candid history and a permanent statement of my feel- 
ings regarding Jeanie. You might put before him my 
views on this matter, and asking him to consider 
whether her future pea£e and happiness may not be 
bound up in my getting her, even as mine appears 
to be. 

I know that he is a reasonable man who loves his 
child greatly, and he will be ready, I think, calmly to 
review the whole matter should it be properly laid be- 
fore him. Unless I am greatly mistaken he is well 
inclined and friendly toward me, and upon no other 
ground but that of our relationship has opposed this 
matter. Let me then address myself as briefly as 
possible to that subject, and state a few facts and con- 
siderations bearing upon the "physical question" to 
which he very justly attaches considerable importance. 
I have studied it, and with a full view of all the risks 
supposed by some to exist, I am quite prepared to face 
them, since on me they will principally fall should they 
ever become realities. The stress which he attaches to 
this view of the subject must be my excuse for going 

75 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

into details which would without that reason be un- 
necessary and undesirable; and I rely upon his fairly 
and dispassionately viewing the matter as one of vital 
moment to me upon whom the future troubles, were 
there any, would chiefly rest. 

When uncle was here he spoke to me about an 
article which he read in my study in "The British 
Quarterly Review" for July 1st on "Sin and Madness, 
From a Physician's Point of View". 

He referred to that article with approval, and as it 
did not occur to me at the time as having any length- 
ened allusion to the question of cousins marrying — for 
I had read it many weeks ago and considered it alto- 
gether a rather weak production which had made no 
deep impression upon me. He subsequently referred 
to it conversing with Jeanie, as containing reasons 
adverse to our wishes. 

The only sentence bearing fairly upon cousins mar- 
rying therein is as follows: "How far cousins may 
marry with safety is a disputed point; some maintain 
that they can do so with perfect safety, provided both 
families are free from disease, but it is generally ac- 
knowledged that there is much risk." 

This risk, it is understood, applies only to the off- 
spring of such a union — one doubtless sufficiently great 
— but one principally affecting the parties themselves, 
be it observed. But I contend that the "disputed 
point" of our reviewer must be decided rather in favor 
of those who contend cousins may marry "with per- 
fect safety," subject to a provision which is, I am sure, 
true to both families. 

My conclusion is based upon the following facts — 
viz. That throughout the whole record of Jewish law 
and history this practice was not only permitted but 
especially permitted and approved in the most illustri- 
ous examples ; and that no stricter or severer marriage 
code ever existed than that of the Jews, which more- 
over was of Divine authority. To take an instance 

7« 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Jacob married Rachel and Leah, his full cousins — 
daughters of his uncle Laban — his mother's brother — 
and from these were descended the founders of the 
Jewish nation, and through their line came Christ, ac- 
cording to the flesh. Esau likewise married Mahalath, 
daughter of Ishmael, his uncle and father's brother. 
The Mosaic law, famous for its model purity, con- 
tains no prohibition of the sort ; and even after the re- 
turn from captivity, when ceremonial defilements were 
innumerable, the Rabbis, we are told by Dr. Ginsburg, 
held "intermarriages between cousins are quite legi- 
timate." No legislation of modern times in the world 
except in Roman Catholic countries has proscribed it, 
and it is sanctioned in England and here by law and 
custom. 

No ill consequences to offspring are traced through- 
out Scripture or to parties themselves; and I feel 
certain that the whole affair has only a Middle Age 
origin, and has some of the superstition yet around it 
which was imparted to it by the cunning of a Papacy 
for the purpose of acquiring a more spiritual, or rather 
superstitious, hold upon the people. Remember the 
Church of Rome has done much to weaken the mar- 
riage tie, and has subordinated it, like every other, to 
priestly aggrandizement. The prohibition, therefore, of 
anything by it should be viewed with suspicion. As 
far as I can trace the objection, it rests upon the pro- 
hibition only of the Church of Rome, and was first 
formulated at the Council of Trent which taught "that 
the Church hath power to annul any of the impedi- 
ments mentioned in Leviticus, or by the Apostles, add 
new ones, or dissolve any now in use." It was this 
arrogant and blasphemous Council which first enacted 
the prohibition, and all history proves it was only for 
the purpose of oppression and gain, as in the case of 
Indulgences. Dr. Croly, a great authority on marriage, 
remarks: "The Church of Rome also prohibits the 
marriage of first cousins ; but she grants a dispensation 

77 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

(a good round sum of money being first paid) for the 
marriage, and . . . thus relaxes the practice for the 
sake of revenue." At the same time as this horrid pro- 
hibition was made, creating a purely imaginary sin 
for gain, it also imposed upon Europe, (and Britain 
was then Romanist,) other impedients to marriage 
arising from spiritual kindred such as godfathers and 
godmothers, whilst on the other hand, (for money) it 
threw wide the door to marriages between uncles and 
nieces. Dr. Elliot in his "Delineation of Romanism" 
(1437) remarks: — "It is unlawful for the Church of 
Rome to restrain other degrees than those which are 
commanded in Scripture." "To forbid," he continues, 
"more degrees in marriage than what are either di- 
rectly or indirectly by necessary consequence pro- 
hibited by law, is presumptuous, as the Most High 
best knew what persons were fit for marriage, and how 
far the line of marriage was intended to reach." I 
charge the entire responsibility, for my part, of pro- 
hibiting such marriages upon the Church of Rome, 
and especially in its Decrees at the Council of Trent. 
I believe there is not an atom of truth against such 
marriages in Divine law or ancient Christian and Jew- 
ish practice. I believe the impediment was invented, 
like many others, as a likely pecuniary speculation, 
and I, for one, repudiate altogether the imposition of 
such an impediment from such a source as being of 
any value whatever. Let the light of truth reveal the 
baseness of its origin, and let the fresh breezes of 
Divine law drive away the mists of traditionary ig- 
norance from our minds, which only Papal filthiness 
invented, and which is one of its chains — not the only 
one by any means — from which we are not yet free. 

This is my honest conviction as in the sight of God, 
and I believe the whole weight of reason and truth — 
as shown in experience and Divine law — will support 
me in it, whatever the event may be as to Jeanie and I. 

No, this question of our marrying must now be 

78 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

considered, altogether apart from the idea that rela- 
tionship is any bar. 

Are we agreed otherwise, and is there no impedi- 
ment in uncle and your minds such as would prevent 
my marrying her were I not her cousin? As to your 
agreement, I think that is a settled matter apart from 
the "Roman Bogie", which surely we will not fear, and 
I know I would give to her an undivided heart and 
loving care such as none can exceed, I care not where ; 
and I am not ashamed to say it boldly, now that I 
have to plead for her. Then as to any other impedi- 
ment, what is there? What can there be? I know I 
am very imperfect, and I know I have to subdue evil 
tendencies in my disposition, like others. But God 
has been good to me. I have had many trials, many 
toils, and need to exercise every Christian grace in 
self control, and in guiding, teaching and aiding others. 
I know I have been an eager learner in the school of 
experience — I wish heartily a more successful one — 
and I have been taught to exercise patience as well 
as diligence. These three past years have been severe 
ones, and had God not sustained me I must have fallen. 
But here I am, what I am, by His mercy today, and 
nothing earthly could add to my joy more than the 
realization of that for which I now plead. Allowing 
for human frailty and my full share of it, is there any 
special impediment in me? I am not hard to live 
with, I think — I may say with truth none have ever 
said so who during these seven years or so have served 
me; and you know my home life, when grace had not 
wrought in me what it has now, I trust. I am stronger, 
taking it on the whole, just now in mind and body than 
I ever have been in my life, and have done, and am 
doing, work which none but a strong man could do. 
I have a good, though not a palatial house, and with 
her it would be a good home. I have a fair position 
and increasing income, a kind, appreciative people, a 
growing church and congregation, and above all the 

79 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

gracious assurance that God's blessing is with me in 
my very consciously unworthy endeavors to do His 
work, to proclaim His will and mercy, and to save 
many from eternal ruin. 

Uncle knows a little about all these things. Let 
him give me, as I have hope he will, an indulgent hear- 
ing, and see whether he cannot give me "a guard" to 
all my treasures here, far more precious than the 
golden one with which his kindness fettered me upon 
leaving — that "guard" is Jeanie — I need taking care 
of and she can do it; and if he will, I will promise to 
value and wear with loving care, and preserve with 
undimmed brightness that "guard" — yea, hoping that 
we shall shine brighter in the life beyond for having 
trod life's pathways here in union, hand and heart to- 
gether. 

Now, why not? I plead as for that most precious 
to me ; and pride or shame are alike cast behind whilst 
I think of how precious it is to me to succeed, and 
how bleak and barren and stony will the way through 
life appear should I fail. Do not think my feelings 
are running away with my judgment in this matter, 
for that is not so. There is a calm intensity of convic- 
tion about my being right in this — and I have sought 
Divine guidance earnestly to write every word in 
simple truth without exaggeration, and my reason, my 
conscience, my will, my love and my judgment (five 
inward causes) all agree in approving my plea. Indeed, 
I had almost "given in" and left Melbourne full of 
gloom and something like despair — Sydney seemed a 
stony, heartless desert, and every man a floating ice- 
berg on a sea of misery, for the moment — when there 
rushed into my mind suddenly, while whirling along 
to Newtown words which seemed to be accompanied 
by the softest of musical voices thrilling my heart with 
fresh hope and trust in new determination — "I will 
trust, and not be afraid." From that time the convic- 
tion has steadily grown in my mind to try again, and 

80 



#L-** jLZtrvY- nuts*, , rU* K*&A*A iu~*A n&U<A 

Handwriting of John Alexander Dotoie at the age of irveniy-four. 



((fat Muit'ffl) - 



tod UtAJf CTHU4 tifa KLjjIftiiM (fU/l , 
iffluM wt&W tuo to** Modi Utf k mrwM kJUfa , 
wuf { imuT M~~{<uja ti^uT , iAjM Mfrwfy mdt 
fa wOMty tfmMh , dr^Mk Wtt UnM , 
fi%tty*t bUU OpjuLO , tmk M4A k Ufa hum, 
all Hi warn if\ Ki qdAia qui - 



Ten years later. 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

not until I lifted my pen and began to write to you, 
did I begin to see that through you I might make a 
new appeal and enter the lists with my stammering 
pen. 

Now, father, I constitute you my ambassador to 
uncle, mother will do her part in a loving way, I 
know, should opportunity offer, and I beg you as early 
as you can to have a long chat with uncle about it 
all, presenting this letter as your credentials, and as 
my plea. One thing do — excuse it's not being shorter 
and more coherent, but both of you will cover that 
sin with your charity, seeing how difficult it is for me 
under the circumstances. 

Every word I have written is my most solemn con- 
viction of what is true, and I send this letter on to you 
wafted by my fervent prayers for its success. 

And now this very long "brief" begun on Thursday 
closes on Saturday ; and as I wish to post it in time 
for the P. and O. mail this afternoon and then proceed 
with my preparations for tomorrow, I must close 
without reference to many topics of interest to which 
we are having our minds directed here, in impending 
changes, etc. I am very busy, and am glad, for it helps 
me to get through without fretting. There are many 
things which are making heavy demands upon every 
power, and the little lull which existed while uncle 
and Jeanie were with me, has ended in a great pressure 
of work of all kinds, involving me in much anxiety 
and care sometimes — but it is for a gracious Master. I 
have three sermons for tomorrow and they are all 
special, two or three meetings on Monday, two on 
Tuesday, two on Wednesday, one on Thursday are al- 
ready on my list, besides many pastoral duties. Too 
much, you say. Well, this shows the need for an ad- 
viser and reprover as well as a helper. Try to secure 
me this. 

I will write again early, and meanwhile shall look 
eagerly for your reply to this, which I do hope will 

81 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

lift me up and not otherwise. Indeed, if you have any- 
thing especially good to announce let it come over by 
the lightning. 

I hope this will find you and mother well. Tell me 
all about her. Try and get aunt on my side. I used 
to think she was very kind and friendly to me. Be a 
good ambassador, and I will decorate you with another 
Star of Love, and send you thanks immeasurable. I 
cannot revise this letter. Words may be missing, or 
the sense obscure, but I must leave it. 
With earnest prayers for you both, 
I am 

Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(/une 18, 75— settled in Nevtovn, N. S. Wales.) 

My Dear Friend : 

I feel quite ashamed, when I look at my letter book 
and see that my last letter to you was written on 
August 26th in last year. "Out of sight" you have 
been, but never "out of mind" ; and I question whether 
your name has ever been out of my thoughts and 
prayers for a single day. Does it not seem strange 
that I have not written for so long, and how can I ac- 
count for it? These words — procrastination and in- 
cessant occupation. No man is too busy to write a 
few lines, and hence I do not excuse myself on that 
account, but you know I do not content myself with 
short letters, and put off writing, therefore, until I 
could find time to write a long one. Then I have lived 
a very busy life since coming to New South Wales, and 
my work is now very arduous and important; but I 
felt that I could no longer delay, and must find time 
to write and tell you how I stand, knowing how glad 
you are to hear always about me. Pardon, then, my 
past shortcomings, and with this assurance at the out- 
set, I shall the more confidently proceed with my let- 

82 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

ter, which must needs be written in snatches of time 
between numerous engagements. 

About the time I wrote to you, I also wrote to 
Donald, and mentioned, curiously enough, the expres- 
sion of the minister who was then here, who telling 
me that he was possibly going to Queensland, said he 
was sure that the people of Newtown would call me 
to the pastoral oversight here, and so it happened, and 
I accepted. 

Doubtless you heard from father the details con- 
cerning this matter, and the success which God graci- 
ously vouchsafed me at Manly. I was enabled to build 
up a church materially and spiritually there, and there 
are not a few whom God hath brought to Himself 
under my ministry there. It was hard to part with 
them after having wrought for them so, and they 
manifested their love in many tokens of affection, in 
words and little gifts. 

I closed my ministry at Manly on the last Sabbath 
in January and commenced that at Newtown 
on the first Sabbath in February. There were months 
of negotiation in various ways, before I could feel it 
my duty to accept the call to Newtown ; but the formal 
call was presented and accepted within a week. Had 
I wished, there were many who were prepared to 
guarantee me fully as good a salary as I am getting 
and build a church in a new district of Sydney, named 
Woolloomooloo, now one of the most important divi- 
sions of the city. No doubt it is necessary, and the 
work of building up a new cause is precisely that which 
I love, but then Newtown seemed to have still stronger 
claims. The church was more united in calling me 
than it had ever been in its history ; and there seemed 
to be no one here or in the other colonies who, being 
available, would be likely to secure so unanimous a 
call — at least prominent men here said so. Then the 
cause was drooping greatly through the vacancy in 
the pastorate, and no church in this colony is more 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

important to us denominationally, from a variety of 
reasons. 

The population is large — generally considered the 
largest suburb of Sydney — and there are many educa- 
tional establishments in the vicinity. The University 
of Sydney, St. Andrew's (Scotch) College, St. John's 
(Roman Catholic) College, St. Paul's (Church of Eng- 
land) College, and our own Congregational College, 
named "Camden" — are all in and about Newtown. 

The students, both lay and clerical, who attend 
Camden College are attendants upon my ministry, and 
that is one reason why our church is looked upon as 
important. Then it is a large church — over 120 mem- 
bers — and seats easily 850 persons — no doubt nearly 
1000 persons at a pinch. The building has galleries 
on three sides ; and there is a large, separate building, 
which we use as a schoolroom. There are about 350 
or 450 on the Sabbath School rolls; and a large staff 
of most efficient teachers. We have also a consider- 
able library for the children. 

The people are intelligent — a few rich, many 
middle-class, and a few poor — but the best of all, many 
godly, earnest and kind, amongst all classes. Indeed, 
I have received nothing but the greatest kindness from 
deacons, teachers, church and congregation ; and also 
warm words of welcome from the ministers of other 
churches here. 

This seemed to me the call of God; and not with- 
out much anxiety and thought did I accept it. I have 
never for one moment since regretted doing so. During 
my stay, the extension and renovation of the church 
was completed and paid for — between 500 and 600 
pounds — a communion roll (now a "church") was 
formed, many of these members being converted under 
my ministry; a Sabbath School and library, class 
rooms built, and a Young Men's Association formed, 
were also results, with Bible classes, etc., and from a 
congregation of about 20 it so increased that we were 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

crowded out of the old building, and compelled to ex- 
tend. Have I not reason to thank God for all His 
goodness to me and others, in thus blessing my 
labours, conscious as I am of such great shortcomings 
and sin, and wholly unworthy of such honour? For 
it is honour of the highest sort, "which cometh from 
above"; and I would not exchange it for any earthly 
honour whatever. 

The house in which I live is church property and 
cost about 1800 pounds, without land. In Scotland 
and elsewhere we would call it "The Manse". But the 
name given it by the minister for whom it was built 
was "Devonshire House," which it still bears. I have 
only come to live in it within the last few weeks, for 
during the vacancy in the pastorate it was let to a 
doctor, and his term did not expire until May 1st. 
Then my deacons set to work to prepare it for me and 
put the house and grounds in thoroughly good order. 
The furnishing, of course, has devolved upon me and 
very costly indeed it is : for in the position in which 
I am placed, I am compelled to furnish in a style cor- 
responding to the house, and my status amongst the 
people. It is a large, two storied house with a fine, 
bold front and balcony; not very singular in archi- 
tecture, but plain and solid looking. You will see how 
large a house I am living in, and still a bachelor. How- 
ever, I am not without hope that by and by the Lord 
may give me that great blessing — a good wife. It is 
a trying thing for a man in my position to be single; 
I could easily remedy that, people may say. Truly 
they know nothing of it and would not so speak if 
they did, for I am not a bachelor by choice, but by 
necessity. I will not marry mere beauty or money 
bags; and, unless I love truly, not at all. I wish I 
could report to you that I can see my path in this mat- 
ter, but I am truly sorry to say, I cannot. May it 
please God to make it clear is my earnest prayer; and 
I know in that you will heartily join. 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OP JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Last year you thought of coming to see me; and 
now, surely you will come this year. Let me tell you 
that no one will be more heartily welcomed than you 
will be, and all that I have is at your disposal. We 
have money matters to settle between us ; and I should 
hope to be ready then. Hitherto, it has been a hard 
struggle; and Manly did not really pay my expenses. 
Newtown gives me 300 pounds per year; but my ex- 
penses have been very high indeed, and it will take a 
very strong pull to get through with the furnishing. 
However, I have a strong conviction that all will be 
well ere long and that I am seeing the beginning of an 
end to all financial troubles. 

Now, when shall I expect you to come? I have 
been telling you all about my new home hoping to 
attract you thither; and I am sure you will prefer this 
to South Australia in every way .... 

You will, of course, have heard a great deal about 
the great work of grace going on in the old country, 
in the doing of which God has so signally owned the 
labours of Messrs. Moody and Sankey. In letters 
which I have received, and still more through news- 
papers, I learn that the work in Scotland has attained 
solidity, and permanent blessing has followed. 

The work in England is truly wondrous. Liver- 
pool, Birmingham, Manchester and London — the 
greatest city in the world — have all been deeply 
moved ; and still the work goes on, and will I trust. 
We are praying that great wave of revival blessing 
may cross the mighty deep, and overflow our lands 
with its blessed influence ; and though it seem to tarry, 
yet I feel often a very strong conviction that times of 
blessing are coming to us also. May we be found 
ready to make full use of the glorious opportunity. 

And now let me ask you about yourself. How 
goes on the work of grace in your own heart? Do 
you find much closeness to God in prayer and daily 

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THE PEKSONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

life, and more power to speak and act for the Lord? 
Write to me frankly, as we used to talk to each other, 
and as we shall yet again I trust. Why should we not 
write as freely about these things as of less important 
things? Nothing can be more important to our 
eternal interest than to know by examination the 
"state of affairs" in our souls; and men know right 
well the statement is true in regard to temporal affairs. 
That morbid fear to speak which is often in us, is 
even more dangerous, in some respects, than an over 
anxiety to talk of these things. In the latter case, that 
tendency in every reflective mind is corrected by the 
necessity for reducing things to practice ; and when 
men begin to practice religion, they are careful only 
to talk as much religion as they are prepared to try 
to put into practice. There is, consequently, little 
danger of one who is truly Christ's talking too much 
of Him and his ways ; and it is indeed a mark of a true 
Christian that he is ever ready to talk with a fellow 
Christian. In the old time we read that "they that 
feared the Lord spake often one to another," and 
the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of re- 
membrance was written before Him for them that 
feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. 
"And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in 
that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare 
them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." 
We read, too, that while the two disciples were talk- 
ing to each other on the way to Emmaus, the Lord 
Himself drew near, and talked with them, in words 
that burned within their hearts. So, too, with us, 
while we write or talk to each other of Him and His 
work in us, He listens, He records, He comes near, 
He talks with us, though unseen, and we long to 
see the face of Him whose voice is to us so sweet. 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Come, then, let us talk about the King, 

Our great Elder Brother, 
As we were used often to speak, 

One to another. 

The Lord will stand quietly by, 

In the shadows dim, 
Smiling, perhaps, in the dark, to hear 

Our sweet, sweet talk of Him. 

These words I have adapted from a beautiful little 
poem, of which you may remember me to have been 
very fond when in South Australia ; and they represent 
what I mean. "Come and hear, all ye that fear the 
Lord," was the old cry, "and I will tell you what He 
hath done for my soul." Thus it is that the world 
will be won for Christ, when we say, 

"Now will I tell to sinners round, 
"What a dear Saviour I have found; 
"I'll point to His redeeming blood, 
"And say, 'Behold the way to God.' " 

And while we tell others all we know, we shall be 
increasing our knowledge : for when you clean out 
and deepen a well, the more does the water flow into it. 

Remember me to all. Give all the children assur- 
ances of my love. I remember all their little faces as 
it were yesterday, their different dispositions and 
ways, too. I remember the hymns we used to sing 
together in the little white house on Carter's farm at 
Alma Plains. It seems only yesterday, since I used to 
speed along on your "Nellie" under the hills, on my 
way to Lower Alma preaching station; and meet you 
or Donald sometimes at the slip panels. Our long 
rides, and talks, and happy hours together come back 
to me sometimes as memories laden with precious 
things, wafted though they sometimes are upon sighs 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

of regret — regret that these opportunities were not 
more valued and improved, and regret that, though 
years are now past since then, I have lived to so much 
less purpose than I might. 

Write to me soon; but above all come and see me 
soon. Don't think I am too grand. I am just the 
same ; ay, and more radical than ever. You know I'm 
not proud. God forbid, when I have so much to 
humble me. And now — "the Lord bless thee, and keep 
thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and 
be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His counte- 
nance upon thee, and give thee peace" — is the earnest 
prayer of 

Your affectionate friend in Christ Jesus, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Written to his bethrothed— April I, 1876.) 

... I know I wish to do all I can to secure your 
happiness and make you a good husband. Sometimes 
I fear lest I should even partly fail through lack of 
power or qualities which many possess ; but then I am 
reassured by remembering that the will to be brings 
the power to do, in this as in other things. And I 
know I have the will to be true and loving to you. We 
shall ask God every day to chase all self-love, and self- 
will, away from our hearts and lives. Shall it not be 
true? Never until our wills are in accord with God's 
can we be happy truly and permanently ; and it is a 
joyous thing to live the life God's will appoints. My 
griefs and my trials have all sprung from self-will, 
which after all is only another name for self-love, or 
self- worship ; and God has found me a dull scholar in 
learning practically, how completely every life must 
fail in which the first principle is not an entire renun- 
ciation of self. It is a fearful delusion to imagine that 
the gladness and beauty of living can be found in a 
self-pleasing, feverish life of pleasure or ease. To do 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

quietly as may be, cheerfully and with a light footstep, 
the work to which God has called us must be — and so 
far as I have experienced it is, the happiest of lives. 
Not knowing, or forgetting this leads many away into 
worldly by-paths, into meadows which look cool and 
green, into paths of sin, which bring the soul into 
dangers or dark Doubt, and into the hands of Giant 
Despair — as Bunyan would say — into the Highway of 
Death. 

What a blessing that every Christian carries in his 
bosom the key called Promise ! He who pleads that 
in prayer which God hath promised, shall be delivered, 
and so get back again to the King's Highway. 

You remember the quaint song which Bunyan puts 
into the mouth of Christian and Hopeful when they 
were delivered : 

"Out of the way we went, and then we found 
"What 'twas to tread upon forbidden ground : 
"And let them that come after have a care, 
"Lest heedlessness makes them, as we, to fare; 
"Lest they, for tresspassing, his prisoners are, 
"Whose castle's Doubting, and whose name's Des- 
pair." 

And he adds : — "then they went on till they came 
to the Delectable Mountains. . . Immanuel's Land, 
and within sight of His City." And so may we. 

. . . Reverse the weaver's beautiful, silken, bril- 
liant and almost perfect fabric. It is all a tangled 
mass of confused, disorderly threads on the side from 
which he wrought, very different indeed to the beauty 
upon which you look. So with life — the side from 
which we work looks tangled indeed, and without 
plans; but it is not so. Every man's life is a plan of 
God, in one sense. O that we could rise on the wings 
of faith and love, and view our lives from the heavenly 
side, w T hich God looks upon ! 

If we "wrought out" in our lives with the ever 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

present consciousness that He was "working in" our 
souls His own good "will and pleasure," we should 
not fret or murmur because all the threads did not 
seem straight, and because we could not quite see 
His design. 

It is only to be shown at the Great Exhibition of 
the Eternity, when the prizes are to be accorded to 
every man's work; and what wonders will that Ex- 
hibition disclose ! At a great bazaar once, I saw 
a great crowd of people pressing eagerly around and 
loudly praising an object of artistic skill and beauty. 
After a time, I got close enough to see, and I admired 
it too — it was the most beautiful object in all the 
exhibition, and I was told by some one that it had 
been purchased by a great person for a princely sum. 

Suddenly I asked "Who did it?" And I was told it 
was the work of a poor, deformed, unknown man who 
lived in obscurity and neglect and poverty in a 
wretched part of the city. But he was a true artist, 
and a most wonderful genius. 'Twas strange. 

It seems to me it will be so at the Great Exhibi- 
tion of heaven. How many who were obscure and 
despised on earth, will then be seen to have done great 
and glorious work of Eternal beauty. Nobody knew 
them here. Or if so they were counted fools and 
bunglers, mayhap knaves and deceivers, or perhaps 
they were extended a sickening, tolerating patronage 
which is as degrading to him who would receive it, 
as to him who bestows it. 

Wonderful lives are being woven by patient sub- 
mission and love to God on earth. How much we have 
spoiled by sin and folly ! Let us quickly do better to- 
gether; and we shall be blessed in our doing, and one 
day God will show us all. To get the spirit and tem- 
per, we need much prayer, and retiring from the 
bustle, need to seek God in the stillness. I find it so 
amid my many failures and frailties, and I say to you, 
Jeanie dear, get often alone with God. 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Here are a few verses which I wrote some time 
ago. They may tell you better what I mean. But 
do not think that I am all my words would make you 
suppose. I am very frail and very faithless, often it 
seems to me, but the words breathe my desires and 
hopes and strivings to be what Christ would have me. 

How good to leave the world awhile, 
How good to seek our Saviour's smile 

And follow in His way; 
Oh, could we but our hearts resign 
And fully trust God's own design, 

We soon should find it day. 

Though night encompass us around, 
Though foes despoil our holy ground 

And cause our hearts to fear, 
Our Saviour, from the Mount of Prayer, 
The feeblest cry doth bend to hear 

And quickly doth appear. 

The stormy seas His feet can tread, 
They hear the Voice that wakes the dead, 

Commanding, ""Peace, be still," 
And guided by our Pilot's hand 
Our storm-tossed souls shall reach the land, 

Preserved from every ill. 

... I am so glad you came here, though you did not 
see us at our best and brightest. You will be heartily 
welcomed by a people among whom today there is not 
a jarring note and who are loyal and good to me; 
and you will feel, I am sure, that this is home. I want 
you to feel that. You are leaving, but yet you are going 
home — to our home. I, too, have a home once more, 
when you come to make it one, — hitherto it has been 
"my house." 

I was very sorry indeed to read what you wrote 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

about my mother being ill. As you may suppose, I 
am very fond of my mother, and it will be hard to see 
her, and then part from her, perhaps forever on earth. 
I cannot bear to think much of it in that light. She 
was ever so good and tender to me. But I am sure 
she loves God, and she has in many ways fought a 
good fight. Sometimes I think amongst such as she 
are found God's heroes and heroines, who, all un- 
known, meet and overcome great floods of sorrow and 
trial. You must tell her I am looking forward to see- 
ing her, and she must not have a place for gloomy 
forebodings. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil there- 
of." If sorrow is to come, we are not called upon to 
meet it half way. 

. . . How often have I wished for the soothing 
touch of your loving hand, when I have come home 
weary and sad after scenes of sorrow such 
as have lain heavy on my heart. But God 
is very gracious, and I have a bouyancy and 
strength given, though responsibilities and cares grow. 
And I have a good wife coming home with me, by 
and by. Should I not be grateful to God? And I am. 
I say with all my heart, "Bless the Lord, O my soul." 
I do not fear. I am doing God's work, and He will 
take care, if I am faithful and wise. My only sorrow 
is that I have been faithless and foolish too often, 
alas. But I am with Him still ; and, I say it with deep 
and solemn awe and wonder at His condescension and 
love, He is with me, and is giving me most gracious 
tokens of His presence and blessing. When I am 
ready to faint He gives me some fresh evidence, and 
every day I seem to see His hand with me, and hear 
His voice in my heart. Is it not amazing that God 
should thus use a human soul, and that in work angels 
might covet? . . . 



93 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

{April 7, '76 — writes of his approaching marriage — religious act first 
— cfvi/ second — marriage favorable occasion for miracle of grace.) 

Dear Father and Mother: 

It seems quite a long time since I had a letter from 
you; and I dare say you are thinking the same thing 
regarding me. Are you not the transgressors this 
time? I think I wrote you last; and I am sure that 
I wrote you longest. However, if it be God's will, I 
shall see you soon, and be able to say more in ten 
minutes than I could write in ten hours. You will 
have long strings of questions, I expect. My catecheti- 
cal instruction has been entirely suspended since I 
saw you ; and it will be quite a new experience to be 
questioned largely. Still my letters have kept you so 
fully informed as to my personal history as to leave 
little to add; and then — 

"There's always something in the heart, 

We canna tell to ony." 

That which cannot be told, is that, generally, 
which words could not adequately express. Indeed 
which words could only darken and becloud. There 
runs "deep waters" in every soul, which no "sounding 
line" of human insight has fathomed — not even our 
own ; and there are "quiet under currents" whose 
existence is often for long years unrecognized. These 
influence, unconsciously, our life in its most moment- 
ous issues ; but they defy definition : and their power 
defies arithmetical or methaphysical calculation. This 
is an almost new truth to me. 

But instead of a letter, I seem to be beginning a 
discourse. The ruling passion is strong, you see. You 
have known of me, through Jeanie lately, I daresay. 
As far as I can see now, I will leave here on Friday, 
May 12, by P. and O. branch steamer "Avoca," tran- 
shipping into the Galle steamer at Melbourne, and 
will thus get to Glenely about Thursday, May 18. I 
suppose the marriage will take place about ten days 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

later. Jeanie fixes the exact date somewhere between 
25th (my birthday) and 31st. 

I hope there will be no great fuss made over it. 
Of course it will awaken interest in a few, and some 
excitement — however mild — is inevitable; but such a 
quiet and insignificant being as I was amongst you in 
Adelaide may surely claim immunity from making his 
private affairs a public spectacle. Jeanie wants it in 
the church ; but whilst I, of course, agree, I have ex- 
pressed my desire that the day should be kept secret 
as far as possible. 

Do not think, however, that I am nervously ap- 
prehensive : for, as you know, I am used to being 
gazed at, and am not likely to lose my self-possession 
in a ceremony with which I am so practically familiar 
from the minister's point of view. 

I only desire to feel that neither Jeanie nor I are 
"on exhibition," and every glance and tone under 
severe scrutiny. 

I thoroughly approve of the idea that marriage is 
a religious act first, and a civil act next. I have no 
sympathy with those who would degrade it to the 
level of a "civil contract;" for whilst I admit it is 
that, and such a contract as the state is bound to re- 
cord and recognize since it lies at the foundation of 
all government, yet I contend it is much more. It is 
a great mystery — a type of the highest mysteries of 
our spiritual affinity with Christ — and is the only in- 
stitution which, ordained in man's innocency in Eden, 
has been perpetuated unbrokenly since. Such being 
my feeling, you can see that whilst I should like the 
brightness and joy of Paradise and Cana to ring in 
sweetest harmony our marriage chimes, yet I want to 
feel "Christ is here today" — "Christ smiles upon us" 
— "Christ transforms our insipid earthly water into 
sweetest, richest heavenly wine" — "Christ sees us take 
the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the 
Lord." I am very weak, I am very unworthy the 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

honour, but He has himself encouraged me by His past 
condescension to do it, — I have invited Christ Jesus, 
my Lord, to come to the marriage ; and I expect, there- 
fore, to "see Jesus" there. I do not want the crowd 
to shut out my view of Him then — I can see them 
any day; and besides, I want Jesus to do great things 
for us then, and "manifest forth His glory," so that 
the white raiment of Divinest brightness may shine 
upon Jeanie and I. A marriage is a favorable occa- 
sion for a miracle of grace, and since the House of 
the Lord is to be our marriage place, surely we may 
expect many bright and cheering tokens of His pres- 
ence and transforming spiritual power. Angels sung 
Adam's marriage hymn, in the abode of human in- 
nocence and love, and all sentient nature, from air, 
and earth, and sea, joined in grandest orchestral 
chorus. 

Who shall say that Christ's own children's joy 
shall be less gloriously attended? We are of "the sec- 
ond Adam" — the Lord from heaven — , and claim the 
sympathy of a more glorious throng than even that 
which sung the marriage songs of Eden. 

We know there is an Eden above, and is there not, 
too, an Eden here? 

Thus you see why I object to mere fuss. But per- 
haps all my warnings are vain and needless, showing 
too much self-consciousness about that which will 
create no widespread interest such as would cause 
people to flock to see. Possibly this severe self-reflec- 
tion is just and true. I will be very glad indeed if it 

proves so I must get on quickly now with this 

letter for there are many interruptions, and the mail 
closes in an hour at Newtown. We have had a ter- 
rible time of sickness — since I came here I have bur- 
ied twenty-five persons — twenty of them from my own 
church and congregation; and I have been very much 
exposed daily amongst fevers of every sort. My health 
is, notwithstanding this and my heavy work, very 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

good — wondrously so, I must admit. I am far stronger 
than I could have expected, and am most grateful to 
God for such signal blessing. But I am mentally a 
little weary ; and you could scarcely wonder if it were 
so after such constant mental effort as I have had 
since I left Adelaide — now over two years and a half. 
But my work never was so interesting and successful 
from every point of view. My people are kinder and 
more loyal than ever — many who were idlers, almost, 
are working for Christ in various ways, with an energy 
and love as surprising as it is pleasing — many are 
coming to me as enquirers — my services are increas- 
ing in spiritual power, I am sure, and the numbers 
are steadily increasing. The future opens out into 
vistas of possible things, should I be spared, which 
are very attractive and beautiful to my eyes, in the 
way of extended church effort. 

Are there no difficulties? Many. Many are over- 
come, some still remain, and there are more ahead, no 
doubt. But I not only do not fear them, but there is 
a sense in which I positively welcome them. They 
prove I am on the right track — the way which Christ 
trod — the path of Life and Peace, even though it be 
midst death and calamities. However, strange though 
it seems, I have learned to welcome the sight of every 
obstacle in the way; for I have found they have given 
me, when enabled to surmount them, a vantage 
ground and grandeur of view which I would not have 
missed for far greater toil than were needed in press- 
ing upwards. My only sorrow is that I have sinned so 
much in giving way to evil temptations, instead of 
overcoming them by Divine aid .... 



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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

(Sept. 18, 76 — settling down to married life — deplores languid 
state of churches.) 

Dear Father and Mother : 

You are no doubt getting quite amazed at my long 
silence, and yet I am quite sure you would not deal 
too hardly with me even in your thoughts. However, 
I have not kept you waiting nearly so long as you did 
me, and there is this also in my favor, that I have a 
great deal to do. But I have reason after all to be 
greatly ashamed of myself. And can only say I will 
try to be a better boy in future. 

We are well and very thankful to God for that 
blessing. Sometimes I feel anything but well, and so 
very weary both in mind and body. There is such a 
constant strain on every faculty, and so many contra- 
dictory sorts of mental constitutions to deal with, that 
I am ready to say "any work would be better than 
this." Then some cheering prospect will unfold itself 
and all will be hope in a moment again. God is very 
good and patient toward me. 

There are so many things to tell that I scarcely 
know where to begin. At home may be best : so I will 
tell you about ourselves and our personal concerns, 
and then go on from that to our church matters and 
affairs generally. 

We are quietly settling down to our married life, 
and we do not find — contrary to all the cynical phil- 
osophy of unregenerate bachelordom — that, when the 
first excitement is over, our love grows colder, and our 
perception of failures keener. On the contrary, we 
love each other more, and understand each other bet- 
ter, and do not find that we have any disposition to 
magnify little points of difference. Jeanie is now be- 
ginning to feel her feet, as it were, and to fill her posi- 
tion with more ease and pleasure every day. She is 
not at all fussy and forward — two qualities unfor- 
tunately found in some ministers' wives, as to their 
sorrow some ministers and churches know. By and 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

by she will be able to do many little things, and al- 
ready is very useful at our Working Meeting for La- 
dies and in our Dorcas Society — which held its last 
meeting for three or four hours' work in our dining 
room on Friday last. 

We are getting through a good many of our re- 
turn visits, and hope in a month or two to get through 
all. I am sure Jeanie is making quietly an excellent 
impression, and will grow to be greatly beloved, as she 
deserves to be. She by no means neglects her home, 
and her husband has reason to be grateful to God for 
a good wife. Our home is ever so much brighter, and 
we hope it will be brighter still in the days to come. 
We find plenty of needful discipline, in the cares and 
anxieties inevitable to all in some way or other, and 
for that, too, we should be thankful, for God knows 
what is best for us. 

Our home begins to look more homelike, and little 
evidences here and there of a lady's presence and taste 
are taking away the look of stiffness which used to 
pervade it. 

Regarding our church, there are many things to 
cheer; but it is rather a time of sowing and tilling than 
of reaping. My great desire is to sound and strong 
work. 

There are many who are awaking to more earnest 
prayer and effort than ever before, and what with 
those who are engaged in Sabbath School work, in dis- 
trict visitation, and in other ways, it may be said that 
nearly two-thirds of the actual communicants are 
working directly for Christ. There are drones, of 
course, and there are hinderers, but there are a ma- 
jority of workers in our vineyard — or rather this part 
of the Lord's vineyard. By and by when we have 
drunk of the wine of spiritual success, we shall see that 
we have not laboured in vain nor spent our strength 
for naught. Come what may, every day convinces me 
that I am engaged in the grandest and noblest work 

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for God, and as long as He keeps me in it, I shall keep 
right on working for Him, in the great harvest fields 
of life. Pray for me "that utterance may be given unto 
me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known 
the mystery of the Gospel." Men around me who love 
the Lord are praying for me thus, and I believe that 
devils, too, are working with their might to try and 
hinder the work of the Lord in our midst. 

Do keep on praying for me. I never needed prayer 
more than now : for never more strongly than now was 
I tempted to think I had erred in entering upon the 
ministry at all, and require all the sympathy and sup- 
port I can get to uphold me in this great warfare. 
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with the vastness of 
the work, with the terrible weight of my responsibility, 
and with my weakness, ignorance and sin. There are 
none who can love the Lord and who can love the 
souls of men without meeting the malice of men, and 
I am no exception. This is my condition just now, 
and I have recently been exposed to malice in a pe- 
culiarly bitter and painful form. . . . 

Enough of that. I must go on doing what seems 
to be right in God's sight, and I can only do that by 
obeying His Word and the teaching of His Spirit in 
my conscience. 

Our district work has aroused the Roman Catholic 
priests to vigorous action amongst their flock, I am* 
told, and they are warning against the heretics who 
are weekly going from house to house. As regards 
the liquor dealers, I have done little beyond what I 
have said in the pulpit concerning their action, and 
I don't think there are any such who sit in my church. 
But we are preparing for them. 

The committee of the Union have unanimously 
requested me to read a paper on Intemperance at the 
next annual meetings to be held next month. I have 
agreed. I shall take strong ground, and deal plainly 
with the whole matter. Now has arrived my time 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

for speaking out; and I look to God for wisdom and 
grace to do it. There is no use waiting any longer : for 
whilst we are delaying there are thousands perishing. 
The most heart-rending sights and reports constantly 
reach me and men and women are being dragged 
down into awful depths everywhere around me 
through this curse. There are a good many abstain- 
ers in my church, a good many more who are almost 
such ; but there are a few, I know, who are sore when 
the question is touched and who would rather hear 
less about it. However, that is no new thing regard- 
ing many needed utterances ; and whilst I will try to 
avoid offense, yet I cannot conceal truth which ought 
to be spoken on any subject — certainly not on this. 

We are in a languid state in our churches, it appears 
to me ; and I often fear lest there are not grave dangers 
likely to arise from our practical isolation from each 
other, and the existence of an irresponsible oligarchy 
— for it comes to that. A little more organization, 
or a good deal less, is needed. 

And now I must turn to two matters of public 
interest — one of which has doubtless created a pro- 
found sensation throughout the colonies. The first 
is the terrible story of the loss of the "Dandenong", 
and the second is the interesting, suggestive and dis- 
creditable spectacle of our Governor (Sir H. Robin- 
son) and Mr. Fairfax discussing as to who is most to 
blame for the vice of gambling on horse-races which 
disgraces our community and destroys our youth. 

Fifty-seven lives at least were lost in the "Dand- 
enong," and I expect the full accounts of the disas- 
ter have been republished in Adelaide. When "the 
lights disappeared suddenly" doubtless the vessel 
sunk: for every search has been made without avail. 

The story is a sad one indeed, and a Christian 
man must needs reflect with sorrow upon it, if at all 
acquainted with the condition of most of the crews 
and passengers generally met with on these voyages. 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

How thankful I feel to God who has protected and 
preserved me in my journeyings to and fro ; and when 
I think of our passage from Adelaide a few months 
ago I often wonder we escaped. Had it been just a 
little rougher the greed of the overloading port 
agents would have brough us to a watery grave; 
for as it was the sea was breaking over us, and in 
weather like the recent hurricane the ship would not 
have lived three hours. 

The correspondence I have referred to arose out of 
a leader published in the "Herald" and is a case of 
the pot and the kettle. The "Herald" devotes whole 
columns of "betting business" at Tattersals, spicy 
accounts of the stakes and morning canters, etc., with 
long, sensational accounts of the "sport" at Rand- 
wick — where every blackleg and scoundrel who can 
get from Sydney and Melbourne assembles to in- 
dulge in "the noble pastime", which occupies the at- 
tention of "the gentlemen of the country" whose names 
are enrolled in the scroll of sporting fame by the so- 
called first gentlemen in it. 

It was therefore a merited rebuke when our hor- 
sey Governor charged upon the "Herald" the chief 
responsibilities of the impetus given to the opera- 
tion of the betting ring, who like vultures with a 
taste for putridity scent a race and its abominations 
afar off, and hasten to plunge their foul beaks and un- 
clean talons into the hearts of the foolish and greedy 
throngs of fools. A racing week in Sydney is a car- 
nival of all abominations — it is said 40,000 persons 
attend — and leaves deadly results. It has been 
shown that the races are held upon part of our wa- 
ter reserves, and as a gathering area, and that the 
filth and garbage ad nauseam is carefully carried 
down into the Botany Dam from whence Sydney is 
supplied with its water — thus carrying dirt, disease 
and death into every house, through every tap. And 
this is the work encouraged by a "wise statesman," 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

and a "Christian philanthropist." The moral results 
of the race course are like the physical : it carries a 
moral death into every part of our social system, and 
is proving the ruin of thoughtless thousands. 

And this is the man, whose treasury is swollen by 
the proceeds of the race course, who is to be elected 
our chairman for 1877-8, if some can carry out their 
plans. What a spectacle ! I am ashamed of the 
whole affair; and it seems to me quite certain that 
the Lord Jesus, or Paul, or any New Testament saint 
would roundly condemn any man who claimed to be 
a Christian having a business — newspaper or other- 
wise — the profits of which were derived from adver- 
tising operas, theaters, falsehoods about medicinal 
pills, horse races, betting, etc. etc. These are the 
things that do more to disgrace and hinder the cause 
of Christ, than any number of infidel attacks upon Di- 
vine revelation. How can we wonder if the Gospel 
does not spread, when leading professors are making 
of God's temple only "a den of thieves"? How can 
we wonder, when, instead of being living epistles 
known and read of man many are read only 
too plainly by all men who are not born idiots, 
to be mere Mammon worshippers? I do not 
wonder at the spread of secularism and material- 
ism amongst those who do not study Christ's char- 
acter, but who only judge of Christianity by many 
of the specimens with whom they come closest into 
contact. I solemly declare I will never sit under the 
presidency of John Fairfax — never! 

And now I must close this long screed, hoping 
that I shall hear from you soon good news as to the 
health of body and spirit. May God give you much 
of His love in your heart to draw you close to His 
comforts and joy in Christ, of His faith to see and 
grasp the unseen realities beyond earth's shadowy 
passions, of His light to make the path of your life 
all clear, and at eventide clearest of all, and of His 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

peace to keep your heart calm and confident amid all 
the vicissitudes of all its trials. Yet a little while 
and we shall rest from earthly toil. 'Tis worth all 
the agony, a thousand fold, to win a crown more en- 
during then earthly gold— the Crown of Life will 
then replace the Crown of Thorns, and the welcome 
of Christ will far outweigh the rejection of men. May 
I be faithful unto death, and whoever passes through 
the portals first, let him or her find that we are each 
following one by one into heaven's rest . . . 



(Devonshire House, Newtown, Sidney, N. S. Wales, March 16, 1877. 
This letter was acknowledged by Mr. Gladstone, who expressed his ap- 
preciation of the same, and sympathy with the writer s aims.) 

To the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M. P. 
Right Honorable and Dear Sir: 

In this remote portion of the British Dominions, 
we are not without our share in the great controversies 
which are profoundly agitating our Fatherland and 
Europe generally. 

Not least of these is that concerning the present 
aspect of Papalism towards the consciences and the 
liberties of men everywhere, and, since you have taken 
a foremost place amongst contemporary men in laying 
bare the real nature of the great conspiracy against 
all progress and freedom now embodied in the Papacy, 
I have taken the great liberty of forwarding to you 
by this mail a pamphlet written by myself, exposing 
the falacies and the fictions of the champion orator 
of Papalism in Australia, Dr. Roger B. Vaughan, 
Roman Catholic Arch Bishop of Sydney. 

You will see from pages 37 how he has dealt with 
your late article in the "Contemporary" on "The Cours- 
es of Religious Thought," which very effectively il- 
lustrates, I think, the truth of your eight charges 
against Ultramontanism, viz "its tendency to sap ver- 
acity in the individual mind." 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

There are also other aspects in which my pamphlet 
may prove interesting to you, such as the undoubted 
aim of this clever, fascinating, and unscrupulous pre- 
late to endeavor, by means of our free institutions, to 
acquire State sympathy and aid in controlling the edu- 
cation of the Romanist children, which is in danger 
of slipping from the priest's grasp, and passing into 
the liberalizing hands of a national and uncertain, 
though not irreligious System of Education. 

The Roman Catholic population of this colony is 
very large — some estimate it at nearly one-third, and 
they have great influence in the Legislative, Judicature, 
and Press, so that we may truly say there are practical 
dangers connected with their ascendency. 

Politicians here are, for the most part, mere office 
seekers or selfish speculators with very little principle 
of any sort; and there is room to fear that the Roman 
Catholic vote and interest is often wielded in such 
a way as often decides the fate of the Ministers and 
the power of Parties, according as these may favor 
or oppose the priestly policy. Dr. Vaughan is weld- 
ing his church together, with objects like these be- 
fore him, in a very masterly manner, and thoughtful 
men are becoming seriously impressed with the pos- 
sibly grave dangers near, and the need for watchful- 
ness and preparedness. 

Amongst other things which greatly favor such 
orators as Dr. Vaughan in their influence upon public 
sentiment, and there fore, upon law and Government, 
are the following: — first, the extreme general indus- 
trial activity, and the avidity with which pleasure 
is pursued in every form by the mass of the people, 
to the exclusion of vigorous, thoughtful inquiry re- 
garding religious, moral, and in the highest sense, 
political, subjects. 

Second, the fact that History has not been taught 
in the public schools for a long time past, owing to 
Romanist influence largely, and that, from similar 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

causes I believe, there are no Chairs either of His- 
tory, or Metaphysics, or Moral Philosophy in our 
University, so that Australian born and educated 
people are very largely a prey to any orator who 
has impudence or unscrupulousness enough to palm 
off on them fables for facts, or rhetoric for reasons. 

Third, the sorrowful fact that the sine qua non of 
that mighty power, the Newspaper Press, is here as 
elsewhere that Pluto shall be propitious, so that "will 
it pay?" is the primary question in every case, and 
consequently, the fanaticism of Papalism is skillfully 
deferred to for purely commercial reasons. 

As an illustration, I may state that Dr. Vaughan's 
address of October 9 last, delivered to little more than 
1,000 persons, I am informed, was published in extenso 
the next day in the "Sunday Morning Herald", our 
only morning paper, occupying about 13 colums of 
small type, whilst my lectures, delivered first in this 
suburb to nearly a thousand persons, and then to 
audiences which filled the largest public hall in Syd- 
ney — say in all to over 3,000 persons — did not receive, 
in all the paragraph notices, more than half a column. 

I say this from no feeling of personal annoyance, 
I trust, but simply as a fact beyond dispute, which 
arises either from the cause I name, or an even less 
creditable one. You will, therefore, see the nature 
and importance of some of the difficulties with which 
we are surrounded in dealing with such subjects in 
this colony. 

On the other hand, there are many things in this 
land favorable to the extension of the truth, and there 
are hundreds of thousands of good men, who in every 
department of Australian life, are labouring in a hope 
that true liberty and rightousness may prosper and 
exalt the rising nations of this continent. 

Forgive me, if I have trespassed too long upon your 
attention, but the subject is one in which I feel a deep 
interest, not only as a citizen but as a Christian, con- 

106 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

vinced as I am that the Papal system is not only- 
dangerous to true political freedom but is opposed to 
the extension of the Redeemer's Kingdom in the hearts 
of men. Knowing that this is also your conviction, I 
feel sure of your sympathy with me in my imperfect 
endeavors to follow in a contest where you have so 
nobly led. 

May I then hope that you will be pleased to accept 
my pamphlet as a tribute of my most profound respect, 
and my admiration for your noble work as a statement 
and author? 

Very sincerely do I regret that it is not more 
worthy of your acceptance, and I can only hope that 
you will look upon it as the first effort in this direction 
of a man still young, and almost without literary ex- 
perience. Since I am about it, I may as well state, 
since it may give you even a moment's pleasure, that 
my first born child, just given to me, is named by us 
Alexander John Gladstone, as a memorial of my grati- 
tude for your noble services, and that reverent regard 
for your character, with which your life's work has im- 
pressed me. 

Again I solicit your forgiveness for my long tres- 
pass on your attention, and praying that our Almighty 
God and Father may bless you and yours, for His dear 
Son's sake, with peace, love and joy of spirit now and 
forever, 

I am, with respectful esteem, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Dated from Camden Street, Newtorvn, Sidney, N. S. W '., October 
22, 1877.) 

My dear Wife : 

Your most welcome letter of 15th reached me this 
morning and I was glad to know you were stronger, 
and that our wee pet was well, excepting the slight 
cold you mentioned, and from which I trust he is 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

wholly recovered now. I thank God for His mercy and 
care over you in your journey. 

You know already from my previous letters that the 
letter you mention as having been written from Scotts' 
Hotel, Melbourne, never reached me, and that I am 
quite ignorant of the events which happened up to that 
time or how it was that you came to be there. Please 
tell me all about that part of your journey and to 
whom you gave the letter which never reached me. 

I am thankful to the Meadowcrofts for their kind- 
ness to you, and sorry that poor M — has such hard 
times. You did right about the money, though I will 
never ask them for the balance until they seem more 
able to pay it, but will leave it to their own time : for 
with so many children it seems to me they must be 
only one removed from positive need, and though I 
am poor, I will not verify Solomon's proverb — "A poor 
man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain 
which leaveth no food." 

About your question as to how I got on upon the 
Wednesday evening after you left, the evening upon 
which the stars, shining out overhead in the sky, 
seemed to raise your heart to thoughts of God, and by 
His conscious presence make you to trust Him with 
a firmer faith and a purer love — a presence which 
caused your depression to fly — and no wonder, fey 
darkness always flees before Divine Light in the soul. 

Well, I must thank you for praying for me then : 
for just about that very time, probably from what you 
say, a quarter of an hour later, I had an especial bless- 
ing at my meeting, where without a single note, I 
preached a most comforting and strengthening dis- 
course to a very much larger audience than usual. And 
this is more remarkable still when I mention the text, 
which came to my mind with much force just about 
one quarter past seven o'clock, in the second chapter 
of Matthew, 10th verse — "When they saw the star, 
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." I have seldom 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

felt calmer or more thoroughly at ease in preaching 
than I did on that occasion. Some day I must preach 
it again, when you are among my hearers. Now is 
not this an encouragement to us both to pray and be- 
lieve that God, while we are praying, is answering our 
requests for each other? I so regard it. And another 
thing it shows us is the good we may get through 
writing to each other about these things; for, if you 
had not mentioned the fact of your so thinking, feeling, 
and praying, I would not have known that I was speci- 
ally helped in answer to your special prayer. The Holy 
Spirit which dwells within us both will often thus re- 
veal to us our union with each other in God; and this 
is true : (to adapt some lines of Tennyson) — 

"For thou and I are one in kind, 
As moulded light in God's own mint; 
And hill and field and wood do print 
The same sweet forms in either mind." 

But there is one thing, dearest, we must seek to 
preserve and increase this communion by constant 
watchfulness over our hearts and life, and by contin- 
ual looking to Him whose last Name in the Revelation 
of Himself is given in His own words — "I am. . . the 
Bright and Morning Star." 

We know Him as the Star of Hope when all earthly 
lights are gone out, and no friendly face seems to look 
upon us ; and seeing Him our soul is anchored. 

We know Him as the Star of Guidance, the Polar 
Star, which never changes and to whom the magnet 
of our love, like a compass, always points; and no 
matter how dark the night or stormy the Ocean of Life 
may be, we are safe when He is in sight. 

We know Him as the Star of Joy, for whilst we are 
weeping in the night, we are sure when we see Him 
that the Morning will come, when we weep no more, 
and when we shall know why we were afflicted in the 
darkness. 



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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

- Yes, and we shall know Him in many ways yet 
more beautiful than these when we get nearer to Him, 
and lose sight of the Star in the consciousness at last 
that we are in the Presence of the Son of Righteous- 
ness, who is the Light unceasing of the home, of life 
in Heaven itself. Meanwhile, we must journey on, 
and when clouds and darkness seem to veil the heavens 
above us so that we cannot see the Star, let us have 
the Light of it within us which assures that there is 
a Star behind these clouds. Says one : 

"I remember well 
One journey, how I feared the track was missed, 
So long the City I desired to reach 
Lay hid ; when suddenly its spires afar 
Flashed through the circling clouds ; conceive my joy ! 
For soon the vapours closed o'er it again. 
But I had seen the City, and one such glance 
No darkness could obscure." 

Sometimes, darling, I am ready to say to myself — 
"You have missed the track — you are going without 
clear guidance — you will stumble and fall in the dark- 
ness, and woe to him that falleth when he is alone — 
you see everybody thinks so, and even Egypt, though 
you were bound, was better than the Desert where you 
are sure to die, for there is meat, flesh and wine, there 
in abundance, and what though all are slaves there — 
is it not better to be a slave and fat rather than be free 
and die? — besides what good can you do going out to 
conquer armed foes in Canaan (call it Sydney) who 
are strong and don't care for your Joshua (say Jesus) 
and can easily beat you who have got no money to 
carry on a war with, and no big cannons to break down 
the walls of prejudice in thousands of hearts — go back, 
go back, before you are ruined !" 

And then, to make matters worse, I seem to hear 
"the elder brethren" add their sneers — I have heard 



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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

them before — and some Eliab saying — "Why comest 
thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left these 
few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the 
naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down 
that thou mightest see the battle." To all which I 
can only say as David said long ago — "What have I 
now done? Is there not a cause?" 

Then turning to my own heart, having first turned 
my soul to God, I rebuke my faithless fears, and 
silence the cunning whispers of the Tempter. For I 
can say — "I know I'm on the right track — I know who 
guided me to enter upon it, and that it was for His 
glory I begun to tread it, for His glory I intend to 
continue in and to finish it — I know I may stumble, 
but that will be my own fault, and I know at the same 
time that I am not alone, for God is with me and for me 
so that even I can say, 'Rejoice not against me, O mine 
enemy ; when I fall I shall arise ; when I sit in darkness 
the Lord will be a light unto me' — I don't care what 
'everybody' thinks or says if that is contrary to God's 
thoughts and ways : for T will hear what God 
the Lord will speak' — I don't believe it would 
be better to go back to Egypt, I hate its 
wine and flesh, I don't murmur for 'quails', 
and there's plenty of manna for today with a promise 
of plenty tomorrow, I don't believe I shall die in the 
Desert, and even so I had rather starve and die there 
where God calls me than live fat and a slave under any 
Pharoah either in church or state ; for I would be sure 
to get to heaven from the Desert, a more than doubt- 
ful matter if I died in Egypt. I can conquer without 
money in Sydney (Christ and Peter and Paul and all 
His first followers and many of His best in all ages 
had none — they 'became poor' yet they conquered Jeru- 
salem, Rome, Athens — the world) ; and those who 
don't care now for my Joshua will soon, if I am faithful, 
for He makes His victorious presence and power felt, 
and men must listen, even if they are His enemies, 

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THE PEKSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

for 'Never man spake like this man' is always their 
verdict now as it was long ago; and as for money to 
carry on the war with, I have God's Promisory Note 
payable on demand of faithful Prayer at the Throne, 
the Treasury of Grace for 'all things' (is it not written 
'God shall supply all your need according to His riches 
in glory in Christ jesus' and 'who goeth a warfare at 
any time at his own charges?' ) and He is my Backer, 
ay, and He can open the hearts of men to see that all 
my proper wants are supplied in His service, for all 
men are His and all they have they hold as stewards 
on a short lease to be employed for Him — I can get 
plenty of cannon to batter down the Walls of Prejudice 
in human hearts, for the whole Armory of Heaven is 
at my disposal if I am true to God, and I know a Trum- 
pet before the sound of which no Jericho Walls of 
Pride can stand, — the gospel Trumpet when breathed 
into by the Spirit of Truth and Love. I know I shall 
not be killed outright, and I am certain to conquer even 
if I die in the fight, and I won't, I won't go back an 
inch, so long as God pleases to say 'go forward.' And 
why ? for though T am a worm and no man', yet to all 
who are convenant with Christ, God has said, 'Fear 
not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel ; I will 
help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy 
One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp 
threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh 
the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make 
the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind 
shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter 
them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and glory 
in the Holy One of Israel'." 

Now this is my strength, these are my resources, 
these works are my purposes, and in the Lord — the 
Star that never sets — is my rejoicing, and His victory 
is my glory. With all humility — and prayer for deep- 
ening within and all foes without, for knowing from 
my heart that I neither covet worldly wealth nor hon- 

112 



im 



^ 




THH*PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

ours, knowing that I am personally content with such 
things I have, and relying upon Him who has said 
"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" I, too, may 
boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not 
fear what man shall do unto me." 

And, Jeanie, my love, this is my answer to the 
words of your father's, or my father's who, instead 
of giving sympathy, sneers at faith. I do not 
need to be told that my life has been full of 
sins and errors of judgment, and certainly when I am 
suffering do not need any of my nearest to join in the 
cry "He saved others, himself he cannot save," which 
comes to me now as to many since Christ heard it in 
His hour of darkness — though then it came from His 
enemies. I have confessed my sins to a forgiving and 
gracious God, I have even confessed to man, and I 
have done, am doing, and shall do, what in me lies, 
aided by God, to see that no one suffers permanent loss 
through my errors, and through my overconfidence in 
men who should have been trustworthy. 

But I fail to see any one's right to reproach me, 
simply because I did not burden them with my 
troubles; and I now say without any anger but with 
calm deliberation, if you find yourself and our pet 
looked upon thus in the slightest degree, you are to 
come back to me at once, for I will not have that, no, 
not for a moment. I can keep you here, as you know, 
and I would a thousand times rather submit to any 
privation than have you there or anywhere 
looked upon as one of my "troubles" thrown upon 
other people, for you two are my greatest earthly com- 
forts, whom it was hard to part with even for a time, 
whom it is harder still to do without as I daily find, 
and whom I want back the first day they cease to be 
happy in Adelaide. Indeed, even more than you know, 
it was for your sakes I let you go. But come back at 
once, I charge you, if you are uncomfortable or un- 
welcome in the smallest degree. Don't think that I 

113 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

have misread your letter; your father is kind to you 
and wants you "to eat well, sleep well, and live out 
in the open air" — all very good — and so do I — but you 
could have done all that without leaving New South 
Wales. But that does not make "kindness", if I am to 
be sneered at, for surely my sorrow will be yours, and 
I am hurt and sad to get these words from him — he 
shall yet see that God's people are as richly fed as 
ever they were when manna fell from heaven, for every 
day He gives them daily bread; and though he is our 
father, and I desire to treat him, as you know I have, 
with all due respect in word and deed, yet he shall not 
sneer at the promises of my Father in Heaven with 
impunity, whilst I at least can speak a word or write 
a line to protest — for that is really what his words 
amount to, in my opinion. As for "quails" from 
heaven, I never asked for them, never sighed for them, 
and don't want them — they are "game" which the 
world seeks after, and are emblems of that food which 
is desired by the unfaithful Christians who murmur at 
the food God provides — Manna and Truth — and get 
"quails", but with a curse from the lips of God while 
"the flesh" for which they have lusted "is still within 
their teeth" — no, I don't want "quails" from heaven, 
in case I may get "the plague" too. 

Now as for writing again and arguing the matter 
as you suggest, I will do nothing of the kind. I have 
written one letter which contains all the facts and 
arguments, which is not answered, and I can add 
nothing to it — a letter which, had I thought such com- 
ment would be made on the writer, I would never have 
written ; for as you know, it was painful to write, and 
a pain that might have been spared, as I now see. The 
absurd telegram for more information pained me too, 
because it was sent to me after reading two letters 
to which I could scarcely by any possibility add an- 
other fact. I thought if anything could be full it was 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

the minute account I gave of everything in these 
letters. 

Please do not let your father imagine that I am ask- 
ing him to help me, for I have not asked a penny, am 
glad I have not, and do not intend to. It would hurt 
me now for him to help. These many years past have 
I toiled on through all sorts of discouragements, dif- 
ficulties of every kind and heart breaks, and I have 
never found God to forsake me in my time of need, and 
there are many true men around me who will stand 
by me should I be oppressed beyond my power to 
endure, if they knew it, for one who knew nothing of 
these affairs of mine said noble and kind words to 
me the other day, bidding me to use his purse if I 
needed it, which declined with warm heart thanks. 
I will confess to you alone, that I thought then I would 
go to "my ain folk" for what aid I might need, but 
after your father's sneers and criticism, I would rather 
go back for a time into business if it were necessary, 
than to ask any of them. So you will please let your 
father know, in your own words, that I am sorry I 
wrote about my troubles to him, that I did not, and do 
not, ask him to help me at all in any way, and that I 
want you to come back at once if there is any more 
said about me and them such as has been said, for 
there is fresh air, and food, and a house here for you as 
well as in South Australia. Indeed I am thoroughly 
sorry you went back now, and you will remember that 
I had a half foreboding that something like this would 
occur. I cannot bear to think of you, even though in 
your father's home, being anywhere that I am so 
spoken of, for much of that kind of influence would go 
far to lessen your love for me, if anything could, and 
put thoughts of bitterness into the cup of our life which 
would embitter our happiness for many a year. Neither 
my father nor your father might do that willingly, but 
though I love them both, I know that they can both 
say and do bitter things that can rankle like poisoned 

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THE PERSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

arrows for many a year, as they both know to their 
mutual cost; but I am determined, if possible, that they 
shall not even thoughtlessly do this to me. 
October 23rd. 

Looking back this morning over what I wrote 
yesterday I find a good many things rather more 
strongly expressed, perhaps, than I would care for any 
one else to see but you to whom alone I write ; and yet 
there is no substantial alteration in my views therein 
expressed after a good deal of reflection. So you will 
please, my love, consider them as expressing my 
thoughts and wishes in substance, even though were 
I to rewrite them it might be in a milder form. How- 
ever you know me now too well to imagine that there 
is anything of personal rancor in my apostrophes, for 
you know my tendency to forcible expressions regard- 
ing what I see to be dangerous things. You will not 
need that I should say that I don't hate your father 
for what he said, though I very heartily hate and strike 
at what he did say, as wrong in itself, and not very 
kindly or tenderly conceived so far as I was concerned, 
because my present position, viewed from the human 
standpoint, is not very enviable, and very hazardous, 
I fully admit. When a man is climbing up the face of 
a precipitous cliff, with stormy sea and sharp rocks 
far beneath him, it would scarcely be kind, no matter 
how strong and sure footed he might be, for any one 
to shout "Go back ! You will fall and kill yourself if 
you go a single step further !" And though I will not 
say that is really my position for, viewing it from the 
Divine side, I would say that even were I, which is 
likely enough, in a dangerous human position (for I 
carry my life and all, as every one does, with but a 
step between me and death) there is no reason to fear. 

Psalm XC expresses my highest expectations, and 
its promises fulfill my highest longings and still my 
clamorous fears into quiet confidence. I do not intend 
to cast myself down to prove the 11th and 12th verses, 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

any more than our Lord did in the Temptation, for my 
aim is to get higher by doing work to which God ap- 
points me, and I know that just so long as I am faith- 
ful to God and His work — and that I want to be He 
knows — just so long may I safely say of disaster or of 
death "It shall not come nigh me". . . . and He "will 
be with me in trouble, and deliver me, and honour me." 

Did you ever observe a bird — or even a fly — cling- 
ing to the face of a precipice? 

I am sure, when you did, you were not concerned 
about the fly's safety, or fear that the rock was giving 
way, and that the fly was about to be plunged into the 
gulf. Neither may you fear, if you and I are clinging 
to the Rock and hiding in some little cleft of Him, for 
He can keep us where life would seem to be impossible, 
because He Himself, the Rock of Ages, must be torn 
away from His everlasting foundations of Omni- 
potence ere the weakest believer that hangs upon Him 
can perish. Is not that a firm foundation for us to 
build upon? 

I had rather, though I am myself one of the very 
weakest of His children, build my house there though 
it made but a very poor appearance to the sneering 
fools of earth — yea, I had rather do this, ten thousand 
times rather, than own all the palaces and treasures of 
the world built on the shifting sands of Time, for they 
shall fall, and, with all who cling to them, be swept 
away into the sea of Divine Wrath whilst the soul on 
Christ's foundation shall behold with joy the morn- 
ing of a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein 
dwelleth righteousness alone. 

If I give up that hope, then I should turn to the 
world, and fight for and enjoy to the full pleasure it 
affords, and sail with its current, and wear its houours, 
and win its applause, and cry "Let us eat and drink for 
tomorrow we die." "Soul, take thine ease, eat, drink, 
and be merry !" "Come, I will fetch wine, and we will 
fill ourselves with strong drink, and tomorrow will be 

117 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWTE 

as this day, and much more abundant!" Yes, this 
would be our best alternative — for it would be con- 
sistent with the rejection of a Resurrection Life, and 
if I did that I would not be such a fool as to imagine 
a middle course preferable, for I know that the attempt 
to serve 'God and Mammon' is a most miserable failure, 
for he who tries it will find that he has lost eternal hap- 
piness in heaven and even temporary joy on earth — 
and deserves to, for he is the worst of all sinners — a 
hypocrite and a sham. The most miserable wretches on 
earth are those who build palaces in and enjoy all the 
World can give, whilst they vainly imagine that by 
some money gift, Sunday observance, or lip service, 
they are going to secure a Palace in Heaven where all 
is Purity and Love. They are, at heart, despised on 
earth by man; they are rejected in heaven by God; 
and they are sneered at even in hell, I should imagine, 
by the Devil — they are fools as well as knaves. 

Well now, dear, I must say, any how, resolved I am 
to leave Newtown, and though I can see how I could 
do good work for Christ in Sydney yet I do not feel 
as if I had yet got the command — "Go forward into 
that city !" Every day kind friends in all ranks of 
society, and in all denominations speak regretfully of 
my leaving Newtown, and the more so because they 
have got it into their heads, through your going to 
Adelaide, that I am either going to Melbourne, or 
Adelaide, or to England — the rumors are many. 

And when I say that I have not yet decided when I 
will leave Sydney, there are immediate and hearty 
responses of "I am glad to hear it," and "I hope you 
will remain, there's lots of room," and "we want you 
here," etc. Especially is this the case among city men, 
and it is strong among many brethren in the ministry 
of other denominations, but especially strong is it 
among Temperance and Anti-Liqour Traffic men and 
pronounced Pretestants. 

Does not all this represent some considerable in- 
ns 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

clination toward me of a general sort? for these are 
representative men. At the same time I do not shut 
my eyes to the serious difficulties in the way, and to 
the necessity for very great care and prudence in all 
my movements, so that I will not be guilty of neglect- 
ing the means while depending upon God for the 
power. However, the means must also come from 
God as well as the power, and the first means which 
God employs is a thoroughly consecrated man. At 
present I feel more than ever resolved to commit my- 
self to no course, but just to consider myself as in 
the position of a soldier, whose regiment is in barracks 
but is "under orders" to prepare for "foreign service" 
on or before a certain day, with a destination which is 
unknown — it may be Europe, Asia or Africa — though 
he is ready, nevertheless, to go where ordered. 

Thus am I getting ready to go — where? — wherever 
God appoints, and sure am I that there is clear in- 
struction coming, when it is His time. 

Now, Jeanie dear, you are not afraid, I am sure, of 
going with me through life with such a Guide, for you 
know His name is Jehovah — jireh — "The Lord will 
provide." I fear nothing with God for me, and you 
with me, and our little Gladdy to care for and love, 
and train up for nobler service far than I can ever 
render to the Lord now. Oh, for more faith, more 
prudence, more wisdom, more love, more zeal, more 
holiness, then I would fear nothing and walk more 
nearly as God would have me. May our gracious 
God hear and answer my cry, for Christ's sake, and 
dismiss me not from His service and presence, but 
make me a better servant and grant me more of His 
Holy Spirit's power to do and to suffer all His will 
ordains. 

Here, then, I have shown you all my heart's 
thoughts about the kind of life I want to live with 
you — I want to walk with God by faith, for that is the 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

purest and happiest life of all — I want to leave it all 
with Jesus. 

Our Congregational meetings began last night with 
a prayer meeting in Pitt Street school room, and when 
you think that the ministers and delegates number 
about a hundred and fifty, and that all our churches 
were closed, and that the evening was moonlit and 
very mild you will then understand how much they 
value united prayer among us when I tell you that the 
dozen or more churches and delegates could not muster 
two hundred at the outside. Mr. S — has returned 
from New Zealand looking worse than when he left, 
in health that is, and delivered a wordy and wearisome 
address. Yesterday afternoon was the first session, 
and three-fourths of the time went in twaddle. Mr. 
H — of M — is Chairman — a man who is pastor of a 
church in one of the most thriving towns out of Syd- 
ney, has a building nearly as large as mine, and though 
more that a dozen years there has only a handful of peo- 
ple, and lives on a stone breaker's wages or less. He 
delivered the address last night, but I was not there, 
for several matters demanded my attention here, and 
could not go, though I don't think I was very sorry. 
Today they continue, and on till Saturday. But I do 
not think much good is coming out of them, for three- 
fourths of their talk ends in a fog, and the other fourth 
for the most part in resolutions which effect next to 
nothing of a practical sort for the" extension of Christ's 
Kingdom, whilst cliqueism is triumphant and that most 
narrow denominationalism called Congregationalism 
is much more potent than the interests of Christianity, 
than the claims of perishing multitudes outside who 
want "bread" and not theological "stones". True 
regard for Christ's work should make that the first 
question. I have come to consider that as of the first 
importance, and everything else as of only auxiliary 
value — whether Creeds, or Theories, or Balance 
Sheets. Let us attend to the first thing first, and then 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

we won't find thousands going to certain damnation 
through the Devil and his wiles, for hundreds who 
are being saved through Christ and His Church. 
There is no lack of power in Christ — in Him is "all 
power" and "all fullness" — the lack is in His people 
and because there is with them a "mixed multitude" 
who are strongly numbered among His people and 
who suppose that gain is godliness. There lies our 
weakness. But oh, for the purifying and strengthening 
power! It is the Spirit we need. 

We need Love and Self-sacrifice, and Courage to 
look at things as they really are in God's sight, and 
Strength to go on without fear and do the right. My 
darling, I am crushed into the very dust of self-abase- 
ment to think of how wretchedly unfruitful my life 
has been, and how fearful and weak my heart is now 
when I shrink from the Cross, the pain, and the shame 
which will surely come if I follow Jesus fully— and yet 
He knows, He knows I want to. My heart is sick 
and faint when I behold the desolations of sin among 
men, and the cool self-complacency of those who look 
upon them, perishing, without apparently one heart 
pang of grief or thought of relief — who just "pass by 
on the other side" and leave the robbed and wounded 
and naked to die in their sins. Oh, my God, fill my 
heart with more faith in Him, in His word, and in His 
Son who is "mighty to save," and ready to save! I 
am empty, sometimes, it seemsfi of all strength, and 
have only fearful void in my soul, where Doubt and 
Fear and Sorrow flit like dark specters, and where 
hated Sin lurks and wants to drag me down in De- 
spair. May God empty me of all evil, fill me with 
Light, and endow me with Strength, for elsewhere I 
know not where it is — for "God hath spoken once ; 
twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto 
God." I feel so powerless and so empty even with this 
Omnipotence and Fullness there for me in God, and 
the ancient myth of Tantalus surrounded by tempting 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

food and water, which yet fled from him when he 
stooped to take or to drink, seems my case only too 
often. Yet I have better times, though I confess with 
shame and sadness that today the Star seems veiled 
in darkness to my soul. O come, Thou Spirit of Love 
and Light — come to my soul. . . . 

Tell my father and mother I want to hear from 
them — I seem to be forgotten by them altogether. 
You should all remember that a public man's life is 
often a very lonely life, for meetings and committees 
etc. etc., no more make a man's happiness than if he 
were a bus driver or a railway guard — and sometimes 
in a crowd one is more lonely than in a wilderness. 

B — and A — seem to have grown much, and I hope 
they have grown more helpful to our mother, whom 
I always remember with gratitude for all her goodness 
to me and mine even though we could not see alike 
regarding our ideas of alcoholic poisons and their 
right place. Her love to you and our wee pet will 
more than cover any hard things she ever said to me, 
and I hope she does not quite look upon me as a hard 
man or kind of hedge hog — you at any rate did not 
find me so. 

G — and N — are no doubt running their first races 
in the battle of school life and with success, I hope, 
and if as a reward for labour, they can only both secure 
the prize Knife of Knowledge it will be something of 
great value to them always, for with its corkscrew 
they will be able to draw the corks out of the bottles 
(books) which contain the precious Wine of Wisdom 
and instruction ; they will be able with the sharp little 
blades of Art to trim what they acquire into more 
beautiful forms, and remove the rough, jagged corners 
with the file of Care ; with the hoof blade of Sympathy 
they will be able to remove stones of misery from the 
weary feet of burdened men and women ; and with the 
large blades of Strength they will be able to cut down 
the plants of Ignorance and Iniquity which flourish 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

around them — and thus make the world the better for 
their having the Knife of Knowledge. May they not, 
as many do, hack at every good thing they meet, and 
destroy in a moment the growth of long years of toil. 

But, better still, I want you to tell them where to 
find the Sword (the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of 
God) which is more beautiful than King Arthur's "Ex- 
calibour", and more powerful, and more mysterious 
and more precious far than it, which a greater King 
gives to all who love Him and serve Him. 

Tell him I have got that Sword, and you have, and 
that we hide it in our heart and yet use it every day 
of our lives, and that with which we fight a good fight, 
and win the most glorious of Crowns even if we should 
die in the fight. Tell them we would not part with 
that Sword for our lives, and that we must never 
throw it away nor cease to plunge it into our own 
hearts every day, and the hearts of the King's enemies, 
too, for if we should die without grasping the Sword, 
if we should come back from the Battle (of life) with- 
out it, no matter if we had another beautiful sword 
in our hand, the King would never, no never, allow us 
to enter His Palace (Heaven) without it — because 
every one who stands around His Throne has that 
most beautiful Sword on, and it shines more beautiful, 
and the jewels become more numerous and precious 
every day, after we get into that beautiful Home of 
the Great King. Tell them, too, of many who wore 
it when they were little boys and girls — Samuel, and 
Joseph, and Moses, and Timothy, and Naaman's cap- 
tive little maid, and the Virgian Mary, etc. etc. 

Tell them of the young men and women who wore 
it, also, on earth — David and his friend Jonathan, and 
Daniel, and the three young men who were cast into 
the fire rather than part with it, and Miriam, the sweet 
singer, and Mary and Martha, and many more. Tell 
them of the grand old men and women who wore it 
and carried it into the Palace when they laid down 

123 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

their Crowns at the King's feet as they came back from 
the Battle more than conquerers — of Abraham and 
Noah — who got drunk and lost it for awhile — and the 
grand old Prince, Moses, the ancient warrior, Joshua, 
the mighty prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha 
and others, the great Apostle Paul — who once laughed 
at the Sword and tried to kill those that wore it — Peter, 
who once tried another sword which cut off a man's 
ear for which the King rebuked him and said it was 
the wrong kind of sword altogether, which was never 
again to be worn by His servant — John, whom the 
King loved so much — James, who was killed by Peter's 
old sword at last — Andrew, Apollas, Barnabas and 
many more; besides whom you could name Martin 
Luther, and John Knox, and the Martyrs of all ages, 
and Charles Spurgeon, and DeWitt Talmage, and 
Dwight L. Moody, and Ira D. Sankey — whose Sword 
can sing — and Thomas Guthrie — who took hundreds 
of poor starving children from a cruel enemy just with 
his Sword — and John B. Gough — who killed a great 
many of the King's enemies, destroyed their fortresses 
where they put people to a cruel death (Publicans and 
Public Houses) and saved more people from death 
than there are in all South Australia, and of Robert 
Moffat — who saved many poor negroes from despair — 
and David Livingstone, who by his Sword cut the 
bonds of many thousands of slaves in Africa — and of 
all the hundreds of good men and women who are 
doing the same kind of glorious fighting every day all 
over the world. 

Then tell them, last of all, of the beauty of the Great 
King, who is the Captain of Salvation, of how He suf- 
fered, how He wore the Sword always when a boy, and 
when a man, when He fought and conquered His great 
enemy and when He saved poor, trembling slaves 
whom that enemy had bound for many years ; how He 
wears the Sword now and leads on His great army 
with it; how He is bent upon destroying everything 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

wicked and wrong everywhere. And tell them what a 
grand Review He is going to have one day at the end 
of the world, when "every eye" shall behold Him, 
when "every ear" shall hear His voice, when "every 
knee" shall bow before Him, when "every heart" shall 
adore Him, when all the Royal Guards of His Palace 
who have always been faithful to Him will be there, 
when all the Great Heroes of His Army on earth will 
be there with all their honours, when all the Sweet 
Singers with Sword Harps will pour forth their glorious 
music ; and, when the whole Assembly throughout 
all His wide Domain shall break forth into song — first 
the Army of the Royal Guards, and then the whole 
Army of "Kings and Priests" who once were the lost 
souls of this Earth, and perhaps of other worlds where 
the King's enemy might have gone — the great Har- 
mony will be complete, and the King and His Armies 
sing the song of Universal Victory. And there will 
come a voice "from the Throne saying, Praise our 
God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him both 
small and great !" 

And then immediately the Mighty Hosts will reply 
"as the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice 
of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder- 
ings, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God Omnipotent 
reigneth." And then the King (Jesus) will marry the 
Queen (the Church — you will read all about this in 
the 19th of Revelation), and then the last enemies will 
be destroyed, and the King's "Great Enemy" and all 
his servants will be cast into the bottomless pit and 
Death and Hell, too : for the King's "Sword which 
goeth forth out of His mouth" will do all these things. 
After that you will tell them of "the new heaven and 
the new earth" — the Beautiful City and the Loving 
King in it — the Pure River of Life — the rich fruits of 
the Tree of Life — the Day that never ends — the in- 
habitants who are never sick, nor weary, nor disap- 
pointed, nor sad — the glorious occupations of the 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

King's "servants who serve Him" just as He may de- 
sire them, always wearing His Sword that they wore 
on earth and love more and more in heaven — and thus, 
my love, you will be a Blessed, Shining One to them, to 
me, to all around, and to our precious one whom God 
has given us, so that he may serve the King in this 
glorious army here, and serve Him in heaven forever. 
You understand my parable, I am sure. Good-by 
for a little while. God knows it is the sweetest ser- 
vice of all, to obey His Word, which I covet. May He 
bless you both, and give you all you need, always, for 
the King's dear sake. 

Your loving husband, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Camden Street, Nev>tov>n, Sidney, N. S. Wales, Oct. 29, 77— 
resents letter from father-in-laJi> criticising his conduct and "endorsed" 
by his wife — tells of intention to found a Free Christian Church.) 

Dear Wife : 

Your letter of 22nd received today. 

It certainly needed the assurance which you added 
in a tardy and brief postscript — "Do not think me hard 
in this : for I do love you so" — because there was no 
other trace of love anywhere in the letter. 

I do "think it hard" and more, I think it full of 
unkindness and injustice to me, and written in quite 
an impudent manner. There is an utter absence of 
all true sympathy, and a hectoring tone such as you 
only once before adopted, and that was before we were 
married — a tone which you will remember caused me 
to write and leave you free to withdraw from our en- 
gagement — a tone which I never could nor would use 
toward you, and which you will please never again 
employ to me. It does not become you at all. I won't 
reply to it — I will ignore it altogether, else my vexa- 
tion might cause me to say more than would be pleas- 
ant for you to read. 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

The fact is, you are thoroughly "demoralized", 
that is, thoroughly cowed with fear and doubt, through 
your residence among those whose only standard of 
success seems to be pounds, shillings and dimes, and 
who utterly ignore every fact except that one great 
fact that I am not up to that standard. It is a thor- 
oughly faithless letter, showing as little faith in God 
as it does in me, and but for the certainty that you 
wrote it, I would maintain you could not have written 
it. I daresay you thought you were doing a smart 
thing in writing it, and imparting some very necessary 
chastisement to a foolish and weak minded fellow who 
was too fond of you to resent it ; but you have missed 
your aim completely and only fallen in my esteem as 
a consequence of your ill-timed and ungenerous smart- 
ness. No doubt the frequent discourses of your father 
upon my conduct, which prefaced the writing, doubt- 
less, of the letter which I received by the same post, 
had their due effect upon your mind, and your inter- 
course with a few others of my domestic censors also. 

You must surely have woefully misread my char- 
acter if you expect me to be swayed by such reproach- 
es and such reasons, or foolish, nightmare fancies as 
you may advance, after feasting on numerous dishes 
of Newtown Horrors, such as I can see have been 
manufactured in fertile brains at Kenttown. The 
dishes must have been very strong to have so intoxi- 
cated you with terror as to write me such a letter — 
the kind of letter to drive me to any course, even if it 
were true, but that of submission to such insulting 
and degrading terms as are expressed in your father's 
letter — which he says at the end "I have shown to both 
your father and your wife and they thoroughly endorse 
it." You are not the same wife now as when you left 
me alone in Sydney : for you left me as you had lived 
with me, — bright and hopeful, believing in God and 
trusting in me. 

Not a single fact has altered, except that I am a 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

little poorer than we thought, and that now my heart 
is burdened with a fresh sorrow in you. 

How very kind you were in your condescension 
to my supposed craven spirit when you "throughly 
endorsed" your father's epithets, which could scarce 
have been more utterly abusive had I been a low thief, 
in some parts of his letter, and which are insufferably 
impertiment throughout! Just look at a few of the 
things you have "thoroughly endorsed". I am said to 
have caused you "to go through an ordeal mortifying 
in the extreme to all concerned but more especially in 
her who is your wife and who has such a fine, sensitive 
nature". Don't you think that I was surprised to find 
you endorsing the sentiment that selling off our fur- 
niture was such an ordeal, when you never once ex- 
pressed pain at our decision, but said you felt we were 
doing right up to the last hour I saw you? Will you 
kindly explain how you came to "thoroughly endorse" 
that "more especially to your wife's mortification"? 
Surely either you deceived me, or your father utterly 
misrepresents you. Then you "thoroughly endorse" 
that I have made a "bad beginning" — or rather "she 
has had such a bad beginning" — (meaning you) — 
also that "under the circumstances" (I, John Alexander 
Dowie, your wicked and cruel husband) "you ought 
to make a clean breast of the matter and show ME a 
statement of your assets and liabilities". How kind ! 
What a dirty breast it must be that can only be 
cleansed by this process, and how comforting to know 
that my wife "thoroughly endorses" such a kindly 
estimate of all my unceasing devotion and love as to 
dub it all for a year and a half as a "bad beginning." 

Then to follow this request to make "a clean 
breast", as if I were a monster of iniquity, is it not 
pleasant to read the very next words, as being "thor- 
oughly endorsed" by you ? viz : "and for the future trust 
your wife with the spending of the money." Don't you 
think I ought feel honoured, cheered and comforted 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

by all these kind things, so very flattering, are they 
not ? Why, if I were the meanest human cur that ever 
yelped, I would not submit to such all round kicking 
without one last dying bark of protest. But, being 
such as I am, I am conscious that I would be only 
foolish to regard such a mixture of misrepresentation 
and low bounce. How dare any man so insult me — if 
I have wronged anyone, to them am I responsible and 
to my offended God; but to this man I owe nothing 
but a forbearing love, which he is trying to its utmost. 
I had rather break stones tomorrow on the highway 
than even turn a thought to him as my helper. 

And I feel I would indeed be a distruster of God 
to think that I should ever be left to his tender mercies. 
Remember that I thought it only a duty to tell him 
my affairs, as your father, and that I never asked him 
for any help at any time, nor gave him any warrant 
for thus abusing me. And what right or reason have 
you to endorse these sentiments? Is it likely that this 
will strengthen our bonds of love or fit us to train up 
our child for God? 

But come, there are other things which you have 
"thoroughly endorsed", which it may be well for you 
to look upon again, and reflect upon my happy 
thoughts of you tonight in my utter loneliness here — 
worse now than ever before in my life, perhaps : for I 
feel as if I had not a single one on earth who loved me, 
as I want, aye and as you should love me. May God in 
His mercy keep me from falling in this dark hour, for 
I am sorely tempted to feel all my hopes to be but 
desert mirages. 

Here are some of the things you have "thoroughly 
endorsed". I will put them in the order they come 
in the letter of your father. 

1. You say I am a deceiver: for I am charged with 
"concealing the matter from us all, even from your 
own wife, until you were obliged". Is this a true and 
fair way to write? Did I conceal like a guilty thief, 

5 

129 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

or did I simply withhold, what I had a perfect right, if 
I chose, to withhold, a statement of my affairs from one 
who never asked for it, and who certainly would have 
got it had he asked me either at my marriage or after- 
ward ? 

When did I refuse to reveal that which I am 
charged with concealing, and how could I imagine his 
interest in my money affairs to be so keen when he 
almost never spoke of them? 

Then as to you — did you not know only when 
faith was broken with me by others in money matters, 
which had it been kept would have never necessitated 
my speaking of such matters as would only have need- 
lessly troubled you? And surely your subsequent, and 
I mean especially your present conduct, justifies my 
thoughts that you could not bear much. Besides, I 
must remind you that very shortly after we were mar- 
ried, I offered to tell you all if you really wished. 

Does all this prove me to be the deceiver you "en- 
dorse" me? Who is the deceiver, or rather who is the 
traducer? 

2. You call me a cheat : for I am charged not only 
with having "managed my financial affairs badly" 
(which is possibly true enough, for money getting does 
not, and please God never will, occupy my whole 
energies as it does some folks) but I am also charged 
that "knowing I was heavily in debt I had it in my 
power during that time to put myself right", — out of 
my salary, that is. Now, if a man can pay and does 
not — he is a cheat. How dare you endorse that false 
charge? 

No one knows better than you how, when I found 
how it was, I scraped and saved and paid, so far as I 
could consistent with living where I was and with our 
position. 

You know I spent nothing almost for eighteen 
months on my clothes, and that I had no expensive 

130 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

habits to squander money upon. The charge is utterly 
false and you must know it. For I paid off much — 
and if you must know the whole truth, in a word you 
shall have it now — and it is this : if I had the money I 
spent in marrying you in my pocket now, I would not 
owe any one on earth a single penny. You have 
brought this upon yourself; but it is true, as I can 
prove any day. No one shall call me a cheat with im- 
punity : for my character is all the cruelty of the world 
has left me, and that even my friends would seek to 
damage or destroy, it would seem. I shall fight hard 
to keep it, depend upon it, for if I can leave no more, 
I shall by God's mercy strive to leave my son "a good 
name," and that, a Book which I believe far more in 
than I do in your father's boasted ledger, says "is 
better than riches". Will you "endorse" me cheat any 



more 



I won't reply to your father's letter at all, and so 
I may as well add here that the analogy between him 
and ourselves, when he was a poor shoemaker earning 
two pounds per week, and saving one pound out of 
that weekly, does not apply to our position at New- 
town, where it would be sheer idiocy to say a Congre- 
gational minister could live like a cobbler, whose whole 
stock in trade and furniture would not equal the cost 
of two or three of my necessary books. 

Besides, I claim that I did no wrong in my living 
or personal spending, and that a very little common 
sense, let alone Christian charity, would see that my 
losses are due not to my own fault but to my justifiable 
faith in others — some day yet he may live to know 
there is truth in such a case as mine. I care not, then, 
for his sneers about "men and women of that stamp" 
(that means my stamp) "who declare, 'the fault was 
not mine, circumstances were against me'." Possibly 
the logic which confounds the position of a shoemaker 
and a minister (though the first is a perfectly honour- 
able occupation, I admit,) may still fail to see that it 

131 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

may be possible for a perfectly honest man to make 
sad mistakes and yet neither be a deceiver nor a cheat. 
Possibly you will learn the lesson, too. 

3. You say I am guilty of that worst of human 
crimes, ingratitude: for you "endorse" the charge — 
''You appear to have not been thankful enough for 
your mercies". 

Now if ever you "endorsed" a falsehood against 
anyone, you did it then against me : for you know that, 
unless my whole life and words have been a living 
lie, my thankfulness to God for all His Mercies is ex- 
pressed every day in fervent prayer and in grateful 
praise to Him, and that I do not value even my life 
itself as an adequate return to my Saviour and my God, 
for all His mercies to me. 

You know that my habit is to take even afflictions 
and wrongs as being filled with goodness and mercy. 
I wonder if your father is as thankful to God as I am 
for all His mercy? I should rejoice to think it, but I 
can scarcely believe it, when I read his unmerciful and 
cruel charges against me. God knows how much I 
love Him for all His goodness and mercy which have 
followed me all my life, and which sustains me now in 
as dark an hour as ever I saw — but I believe it is a 
dark cloud full of mercy. 

Tell me how you came to call me an embodiment 
of shameful ingratitude? 

But I am tired out with the enumeration and ex- 
posure of your endorsements, though I have by no 
means exhausted the list. Yet there is one I must 
notice. It is one which has cut deeply into my heart. 

4. You say I have left you destitute : for you en- 
dorse the charge your father makes in these words : — 
"You have no other place to go to, andyou have nothing 
whatever to provide for your wife and child, which is 
your first duty as a Christian man, and there are no 
miracles performed to provide for ministers' wives and 
children." 



132 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Now how can you grieve my heart with such a 
cruel, unwifely, and untrue charge as this is? Am I, 
then, that lowest of all wretches, a worthless, heart- 
less deserter of my wife and child? How do you think 
I sleep with such charges for my pillows? Why, I 
can't sleep at all. I sat down after a long, exhausting 
day, and yet could not think of rest, till I had answered 
these charges. It was half past eleven o'clock on Mon- 
day night when I began to write, and now it is past 
five o'clock on Tuesday morning — I have sat the whole 
time at my desk writing this most painful letter and 
feel, now that I throw myself upon my bed, that I 
never felt more sadly about you than I do now. Yet 
may God bless you and my boy, and make you happier 
than I can be. 

October 30th, 11 a. m. 

To continue regarding "endorsement" number four : 

It is asserted I have "no place to go to". 

What do you and your father mean? Am I, then, 
indeed a homeless wanderer? Where do I live? Why, 
my present quarters are as convenient as ever my 
quarters were anywhere, and I could take you to a 
score of homes where they would esteem it an honour 
to have me live with them. 

Never yet have I been without a home, and I do 
not believe God will fail me now : for I have a mind to 
work, and God has given to such a faithful promise to 
provide. And, if you were here tomorrow, I could take 
as good care of you as ever I did, aye and better : for 
the cankerworms which ate into my peace will soon 
trouble me no more. 

"Oh yes," you say, "but what is meant is, that you 
have no church you could go to ; there is no certain 
prospect of your getting an income anywhere, and in 
that sense you have no where to go to." Now to bring 
the case quite within the logical powers of my ac- 
cusers, let me put an illustration: 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Suppose a good workman in a boot factory, earn- 
ing good wages, in a time when work is plentiful and 
good workmen scarce, resolves to leave his employer, 
who worries him terribly; is it an awful prospect for 
him when he leaves the factory and goes out to seek 
work at factories where they will be glad to get him? 

Would not the workman, if he was sober and a 
good hand, laugh at you if you told him that he had 
"no place to go to"? Do you see the point? 

When I left South Australia, an unknown — and al- 
most, by my "friends", despised — young minister, four 
years ago, I had "no place to go to", and when I came 
here they said there was "no place" for me — all the 
open spheres of work had just been filled. 

Men laughed when God led me to Manly ; but with 
His good hand upon me they changed their tune in 
less than a month : for unknown and unpraised, I 
opened my mouth to speak for Christ in a place where 
there were only a handful of dispirited people, who 
had no money and no hope, and the place filled and 
overflowed and was extended and flourished, many 
sinners were awakened, many hearts were comforted, 
many souls were everlastingly saved, and — though I 
say it, it is true, — there was not a more popular minis- 
ter in our body in less than a year from the day that 
I entered Manly, an unknown, weak, and sad-hearted 
man — a popularity for which I cared little in itself, 
but which is not less strong today even in our own 
body, among the people especially, (I never was pop- 
ular anywhere with our ministers, as a whole,) and 
which is certainly not less powerful but far -more so 
among the Christian community generally, as is proved 
by the many flattering enquiries which I have received 
from eminent leading men in the Church of England 
and Presbyterian churches as to whether there is any 
prospect of my joining their ranks. Then when I de- 
termined to leave Manly — where I could have got 300 
pounds a year, at least, and a house, if I had cared to 

134 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

stay — I say that then it was said by some of my 
"friends", "oh, don't say you will leave, for you see 
you have 'no place to go to'." But I did say it, and 
what was the consequence? 

Why, I could have gone to Pitt Street as Graham's 
colleague, I could have built and established a new 
church in Sydney, at Woolloomooloo I could have 
founded a new church, at Ashfield, where one lady 
alone was willing to lay down a large sum of money, 
and I had Newtown offered to me with a unanimity 
never before expressed regarding any minister. Did 
that look like having "no place to go to?" "Aye, but 
these things are all past," say my friends, who are 
very much like those of Job, and even my wife begins 
to act like his did; and now that they fancy I am on 
the dunghill and in misery they seem to oppress and 
belie me. 

"Yes," I reply, "these things are all past ;" but I am 
not a worse or less devoted man than I was then, and, 
if I have erred, as I have, yet my life has not been 
without many tokens that I have not lived in vain, 
and my sins God forgives, if man does not. 

Yes, and that is my confidence; God has not 
changed. Yes, and I know Him better, and I love 
Him more and more entirely, and I love His service 
more, and I trust Him more, and I want more and 
more to serve His Blessed Son and my Lord in the 
ministry of reconciling love, which He has committed 
to me amongst and for my fellow men. Yes, God is 
not "past," He is with me and for me "though 
friends should all fail and foes all unite," and I am 
sure He has "a place for me to go to." 

"But how do you know that you are not in the 
place where God would have you," my friends say. 
Well, I have told you and them both, and if you don't 
see now, it is not my fault, certainly, and moreover I 
have a "Witness" within my heart which has never 
yet deceived me, and that Holy Witness never more 

135 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

approved a step than He now does every day this 
step of leaving Newtown. Can you understand me, 
or are you without that Spirit of God which I have 
believed dwells in your heart? The Witness is the 
same where hearts are alike open to hear His Voice, 
and if you can't see with me, then I fear for our hap- 
piness in the future; for either you or I must in that 
event be wholly wrong, and our hearts will be speedi- 
ly wide as the poles asunder. 

Yet there are outward evidences as well as an in- 
ward Witness that I am in the right course, and that 
the hearts of many men are prepared to receive me 
in the city of Sydney, though I have by no means de- 
cided to go there yet ; for unless God guide me clearly 
to the very "place to go to" I shall not go — and it 
might be even yet that He should guide me to the 
City of London, and, if so, I shall just as gladly go 
there as stay here. Don't be afraid; you need not go 
with me unless you choose. I have never forced and 
never will force you inclinations. I will reason with 
you, and show you the way so far as I can, and if you 
wont do a thing heartily because it is right, I am sure 
you will never be able to love, to live with, and to aid 
and comfort me; nor shall I be of any good to you. 
I will provide for you as largely as I can, if you elect 
to stay where you are, and I'll have my boy as soon 
as I think right, but I won't have you destroy my 
life — no, not if it costs me my earthly life. I married 
a "helpmeet," not a hinderer nor an endorser of 
cruelly false accusations ; and I say this not loving you 
less, but so far as I can, as much as ever, though I 
have set my heart supremely upon God, as I have al- 
ways told you, and I will not allow even you to keep 
me back from the right, or cause me to pluck "the 
forbidden fruit," to me, of worldly conformity to 
which you and your father's words would lead me, if 
I followed your course. I will die rather than violate 
my conscience again by cringing in fear of any conse- 

136 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWTE 

quences the world can inflict. 

But what evidences are there of an outward sort? 

Simply three will I mention, though I might many 
more, and remember that as yet my intentions are 
only dimly guessed at, and even the fact of my resigna- 
tion — for I made it last night practically a resignation 
at our deacons' meeting when I was asked if I had in 
any degree changed my mind and replied "no, I will 
leave on the first Sabbath in February, at the latest," 
— I say, even my actual resignation is not known so 
very widely yet: for of course the "Herald" ignores 
it altogether. Well, the three are, first, I was asked 
to allow my name to be put before a church in Bris- 
bane by the Rev. E. Robinson (I declined) ; second, 
my intimation that I might come into Sydney has 
been hailed with delight by scores ; and, third, last 
night after my deacons' meeting there was a deputa- 
tion of three gentlemen waiting to see me who said 
they came — and I know them well — from the Congre- 
gational church at Waterloo to say that, if I would 
give them but the slightest hope of a favorable recep- 
tion, the deacons of that church were sure that I 
should receive a cordial and unanimous call — and a 
position at least equal to that I hold at Newtown could 
easily be guaranteed, so far as money was concerned. 

Do you not see that it is not true that I have "no 
place to go to" when I leave Newtown? 

I must tell you, though, that I declined Waterloo 
at once; and after explaining why in the frankest 
manner possible to the deputation, they not only saw 
the force of my reasoning but applauded my inten- 
tions, and in no roundabout way one said, "The day 
you begin in Sydney my five guineas are ready to put 
into your treasury, although I am not rich, and as 
much more as I can give to carry out your aims ;" 
another said, "If I am within five miles of you, sir, I 
will come to hear you," and the third, "Its the noblest 
resolution I ever knew any minister holding your 

137 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

position to make." And what did I say in declining 
their intended call, or whatever you may care to term 
it? I told them that, if I remained in the colony, Syd- 
ney was "the place I had to go to;" I told them the 
light in which I regarded its claims upon me; I told 
them that on the day I left Newtown would be the 
day on which I should leave the denomination to all 
practical purpose — for I intended to found, by God's 
help, a FREE CHRISTIAN CHURCH either in 
Sydney, or elsewhere; I told them that it was there- 
fore my intention never again to accept the pastorate 
of any church now in existence in any denomination; 
I told them that my views upon fundamental Chris- 
tian truth were not only unchanged but more assured 
than ever, so that whilst I would plead for freedom 
in interpretation I would more firmly than ever pro- 
claim the infallibility of the Bible as the Word of God ; 
I told them that my views upon fundamental church 
policy were quite unchanged and that in leaving and 
disowning allegiance to "Congregationalism" I would 
not cease to be an "Independent", nor cease to teach 
the independent rights and responsibilities of the 
churches, but that I was determined to be independent 
in every way of the "Congregational Union", which 
was in its corporate capacity an aggregation of ciphers 
so far as spiritual power was concerned, because Mam- 
mon seemed to be President, and mean Cliqueism 
seemed to be the standing Committee, which managed 
its affairs; I told them that I held in high esteem and 
loving sympathy very many whom the denomination 
contained, and that my withdrawal was not on account 
of want of confidence in the men — though I had no 
confidence in many — so much as a radical want of 
confidence in a System which asserted liberty of creed, 
but fettered men in the bondage of tradition and dom- 
inant Custums, a system which asserted the liberty 
of members, ministers, and churches, but which real- 
ly killed individual energy, made denominational tools 

138 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

of many ministers, or worse, made them rich and 
worldly minded mens' flunkies, and which separated 
the churches more than it united them, and then ty- 
ing them in a heartless Union together left them high 
and dry and useless for the most part — good ships, 
but badly steered, and terribly overladen with world- 
liness and apathy ; I told them, therefore, that as a 
man's life was a very short one at longest on earth, 
and that as I wanted to do all I could for Christ and 
men whilst life and powers were spared, I came out, 
not from any love of being singular, or from any love 
of the inevitable sneers of the incredulous or the con- 
temptuous, but because my heart was filled with a holy 
passion for the misguided, ignorant, uncared for, and 
perishing thousands who are in the bondage of Satan 
in our cities. This is what I told them, and then I 
sketched the possibilities of my gathering together 
many of these from all classes to hear the Gospel and 
truth of God, and how a church might be formed 
which should work night and day in various ways for 
the reclamation, and elevation, and restoration to God 
of the perishing thousands, first in Sydney, and then 
around it; and then I asked them from what they now 
knew whether they thought I was right in my reason- 
ings and determinations, their answer was direct and 
hearty that I was right ; and that they could no longer 
think of urging their claims, believing that the work 
which I had sketched out and the way to do it had 
been laid upon me by God, and with enthusiasm they 
declared that they believed the heart of Sydney was 
"the place for me to go to", and that there would be 
no difficulty in the means necessary to found this Free 
Christian Church in Sydney. 

Now that is all I have to say in answer to endorse- 
ment number four; and I will not further advert to 
the sneers about "miracles" and "the first duty of the 
Christian man" which I am falsely charged with neg- 
lecting, except to say that I have never neglected it 

139 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

yet; that, probably, I provide for you better and have 
the power to do so even temporally better than he did 
or could do for your mother when he was my age, that 
God's promises cover my family as well as myself and 
they have never been known to fail a faithful man, and 
that though I depend upon no unnatural interventions 
with established laws I believe that "miracles" are 
wrought every day by the operation of supernatural 
laws, and that God would, if I were to die tonight — 
and I am not afraid to die — He would, if necessary, 
raise up from the very stoniest hearts means for my 
wife and child, even if a miracle was needed ; for weak 
and unworthy as I am, yet I am His minister, and go 
forth to His services at His charges. 

There are other of your endorsements which I 
might mention, which are equally obnoxious and 
wrong, but I will pass them by : for I have dealt with 
no small force, you will see, with the principal ones, 
and, as I said before, I cannot trust myself to examine 
your own letter. You say at the end, "Do you think 
me hard in this letter for I do love you so" — you 
might have added "little" : for so little love and sym- 
pathy, and so much blame and distrust is in it that 
I almost wonder whether you can possibly love me 
so very much after all. I know that I never felt any 
doubt about it until now, and you know how precious 
the thought of at least one heart being wholly mine 
was, and wholly I gave you mine ; but when I see dis- 
trust, fear and reproach wrongfully, how can I but 
question whether your heart is wholly mine? — for 
such things exist generally only where love is selfish 
and weak. How different from all this were you when 
we were together ; but you have never during the last 
two years, I have noticed, been the same to me when 
some home influence has been brought to bear upon 
you, and your conduct now is a crowning illustration 
of the truth of that observation. Not a single mater- 
ial fact is altered since you left full of confidence in 

140 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

me and my action; and yet your opinion and confi- 
dence seem entirely to have gone against everything 
which you before approved. You will see from my 
last letter that I had feared this would take place from 
what your father was pouring into your heart against 
me — for it is against me that he has spoken and writ- 
ten. But my letter came too late, the deed was done 
even while I was writing, the blow had fallen ; and 
you who had stood up for me against an unjust father 
and an untrue brother, write me a letter to please the 
one, and tell me you are going on a visit to please the 
other. No doubt you will disobey me also, and not 
leave where you have allied yourself to my censors; 
and if you do, what am I to do? 

I will never be a tyrant, and I will not allow you to 
make me a slave. 

If you do not fulfill my request at once, do not be 
surprised if my letters are brief and few: for I shall 
not feel justified in writing much, nor shall I expect 
you to care to hear much from me. In the event of 
your refusing to come to me in Sydney, I may feel 
that it is my duty to think of going home to London — 
either with or without you as you may decide. You 
say, "how can you go?" I answer, "the Lord will 
provide" if He wants me to go ; and I have never yet 
been finally kept back from attaining an object on 
which my heart has been fully set. Go to London I 
will, if the Lord so wills it, and you know I speak 
what I believe. On the other hand, please understand 
you are not to return to me unwillingly and with fear 
and distrust and reproach in your heart towards me: 
for if you do that, I say plainly that I would rather 
never see your face again, much as I love you, than 
that I should receive you estranged and cold in heart 
— if you can only come thus, by all means stay where 
you are amongst those who have succeeded so well in 
changing your heart toward me. But, if you can come 
back to me right willingly and with true love, confi- 

141 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWTB 

dence, and sympathy, then you are coming back — and 
come at once — to one whose heart is most willing to 
receive you, and who has never distrusted or re- 
proached you until now, but from whose heart every 
trace of distrust and reproach will flee the moment 
he knows you are once more wholly true to him in 
heart. 

It is for you to decide. I have expressed myself 
fully, and I should hope quite unmistakably, and much 
as it may pain you to hear or read these words, yet it 
would be wrong for me to trifle with so vast a question 
as our true relations to each other and my solemn 
responsibility to Almighty God. You know I cannot 
content myself with half measures when eternal issues 
are at stake ; and you must choose between me and my 
principles of action, and your father and his principles 
of action. 

O Jeanie, you don't know how deeply you have 
wounded my heart, and when I read first your letter 
bristling with its unkindness, and then your father's 
false accusations and abuse with your "thoroughly 
endorsed" appended to it, I felt for a few hours that 
the world was empty of all love, and was hard and 
cruel indeed ; for, from the beginning of that letter to 
the end, there was not a line or word of encourage- 
ment or sympathy with me, nor the slightest gleam of 
kind expression in it toward me, and if ever a. man 
needed a little love and tenderness from his friends, 
I did. 

God is good in sustaining me, for my first thoughts 
were very bitter, and "my feet were almost gone ;" 
"my steps had well nigh slipped" for the time ; but 
blessed be God, I have overcome the dark thoughts 
which tempted me. 

It will take time to heal a wound like this; and it 
will need love, too, of unmistakable genuineness. 

When I think of the sweet face of our little darling 
amid all this sad trouble which has come between us 

142 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

I am sad indeed and uncomforted, strange as that may 
seem ; for though I love him as I do my life, and can- 
not bear without a pang of unutterable woe the thought 
of parting from him, I had rather he would die in his 
infancy than that he should ever live to see his father 
and mother separated, or live to know that she could 
"thoroughly endorse" such mean thoughts of his 
father as she has endorsed. 

This must never be. You must bring back my 
darling to me from the scene where, though his mother 
may be cared for, the very sources of her true love are 
being defiled. These are strongs words, but they are 
true. 

I will have no more such letters — I have not slept 
three hours since I received them — and, if anything 
can keep me from the work which lies before me, it 
will be a widening of this breach ; and I will be satis- 
fied with nothing less than your return at once to me 
with the same love with which you left. If you will 
not, then a dark cloud which only death can remove 
will hang over my life until it ends. The saddest day 
for me you ever lived was that in which you reentered 
your father's house; for it has separated in sympathy 
two hearts that had always been true to each other 
till the poison of distrust, fear, and reproach was in- 
stilled. 

There are many things happening here which un- 
der other circumstances I might care to write con- 
cerning. I am overwhelmed with work, and it is such 
toil when one's heart is sick with sorrow. I really 
cannot go into any other matter just now. 

I shall wait to hear from you either by telegram or 
letter immediately after you receive this letter; but 
I feel so ill that it seems to me possible that I may suf- 
fer more from all this cruelty than I thought; and 
perhaps I may be nearer to the end of all pain than I 
think; but oh, it is so sad to go to bed this Wednes- 
day morning feeling as if there were a dark cloud 

143 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

hiding from my eyes my two beloved ones, who are 
so constantly in my thoughts and prayers. Yet again 
I pray may God bless you and my boy and make you 
happier than I can be. 

October 31st, 10 a. m. 
Dear Wife : 

I have just re-read all that I have written and, 
though I feel that no mere words ever can correctly 
or fully convey what one wishes to say, yet I have 
nothing to alter or withdraw, stern though it may 
seem to be in some parts, and imperfect in expression 
in others. I have prayed these last two days, during 
which I have had many duties to attend to, that God 
would guide me to write as I should, a faithful hus- 
band's letter to you — and you have it. Never in our 
life have we had such a determined attempt of the 
Great Enemy to put a great gulf of estrangement be- 
tween us, and it is all the more painful when the means 
used are the bitter words which have been written and 
endorsed by those who are nearest to me. It is a sin- 
gular coincidence that I have almost never taken any 
step forward in my life, but I have had to walk alone 
either with scant sympathy or positive hindrance on 
the part of "friends," who have forgotten that fact 
conveniently when I have succeeded. But I did think 
that the days of walking alone had passed when you 
promised to "love, honour and obey me" before God, 
and when I took you "to love and to cherish" until 
death should part us for "better or worse." We are 
yoked together now, but it will be awful if it shall 
turn out for "worse." 

Will you not right heartily stand by me now and 
always? Why not trust me until I have proved un- 
trustworthy, and have the faith that still trusts and 
loves even where the eye cannot pierce and the mind 
cannot fully comprehend? Therein consists the true 
love which binds true hearts forever. Why make it 

144 







Crave of John Alexander Dorvie in Lafye County, Illinois, within 
the boundary of the city he founded. The cemetery plot is owned by 
the county. 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

necessary for me to remind you that "perfect love 
casteth out fear?" Do you not know yet that "there 
is NO FEAR IN LOVE?" At this time I only doubt 
your love because I see your fear ; and oh, I do pray 
that the Spirit of perfect Love may cast out the vile 
spirit of fear: for that spirit is the root of all trouble 
and contention everywhere, for you see my authority 
is the highest that there is "NO FEAR IN LOVE" 
and, how can I help doubting, if fear has so large a 
place in your heart — God grant that it may be cast out 
ere it destroys your love. 

Have you not proved, since you yielded to the 
thoughts which dictated your cruel letter, and which 
have caused you to still more cruelly endorse your 
father's — I say, have you not proved that "fear hath 
torment?" Yes, the spirit of fear in the heart pro- 
duces at once as its first born child a monster called 
"Torment" because the Word of God says it, and all 
experience proves it ; and unless these two, Fear and 
its firstborn, Torment, be cast out of the heart then 
they will produce between them a horrid progeny of 
devils in the heart — a perfect legion such as dwells 
now in tens of thousands of hearts, destroying all that 
is fairest and most beautiful in man, and on the earth 
wrecking family life in its best forms, and leading men 
to lose all hope of a Heaven of Love on earth or above. 

Do you not see, then, that the conclusion of the 
whole matter is that "He that feareth is not made per- 
fect in love?" What, then, can we do but go to Him 
who is Love and its Giver, and seek from Him that 
perfect Love which casts out this horrid Fear which 
would doubt His power, limit His mercy and distrust 
His care? 

I did think you were proof against fear in whatever 
disguise it might come to you, even in the guise of 
Worldly Prudence, one of its commonest masks ; but 
it has tricked you and got in, and now that you know 
that, get it out by God's help and keep it out. I go 

145 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

to Him who alone can help this very moment and pray 
that you may receive this power, and many have His 
perfect Love in your heart to purify, strengthen and 
comfort you. ... I have prayed : may I be answered 
now. 

The text for the middle of the day in my book is 
"Receive my instruction, and not silver; and know- 
ledge rather than choice gold." Does it not seem 
appropriate to us at a time when we are sorely tempted 
to prefer the silver and gold we so much require, to 
the Truth which seems to bring with the love of it 
such painful sacrifices of all worldly goods sometimes? 
Yes, but Truth is the "good part" and whatever else 
we may lose it shall not be taken away from us, for it 
is "the one thing needful" which must be our guide 
and strength on earth and our passport to Heaven. We 
shall not be allowed to tread the Way, unless we pos- 
sess the Truth; but with the Truth we shall, by 
infinite Love, be permitted to enter into the Life. 

My text this morning contains, I trust, what will 
be our motto and aim in life. It is "Nay, but we 
WILL serve the Lord!" 

Need I say more? Are you willing to render with 
me a loving service to God? Can any service have joy 
so pure, or reward so great, or a Master so gracious? 
No ! Then let us turn neither to the right hand nor to 
the left in the way wherein God is leading us, unse- 
duced by sin and unawed by man. 

"What well advised ear regards 

What earth can say? 
Her words are gold, but her rewards 

Are painted clay." 

Is it not so? I am sure Christ and His inspired 
ones were right, and they declare that everything 
earthly will fade, decay, and pass away — 'tis but 
painted clay. 

146 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

" 'Tis to my Saviour I would live ; 

To Him who for my ransom died ; 
Nor could untainted Eden give 

Such bliss as blossoms at His side." 

With more scrupulous care than ever in my tem- 
poral concerns ; with stricter care to keep in a condi- 
tion, the moment I attain it, where I shall owe no man 
anything but to love him ; with economy without 
parsimony, and careful prevision without dishonoring 
anxiety ; and with a more entire consecration of my- 
self and you, and our precious one, and all our talents 
and energies — I desire to go on in the noblest service 
known to men or angels — the service of God in the 
glorious Gospel ministry of His Son, among men for 
whom he died, and for whom He lives, an Eternal 
Friend. 

Though I ought to close this letter, still I linger 
over it, and feel I do not know how to write the last 
words, though justice to myself, and the work which 
must be done today and tonight, would warrant me 
in closing it at once. 

But I must add this: There are two things I wish 
to leave quite clearly upon your mind concerning this 
letter. 

The first is, it conveys my wish that you should 
return to me as speedily as possible ; but that such 
return must be quite a willing one on your part, and 
with at least as true a love and trust toward me as 
was in your heart when you left. 

The second is, that whilst it conveys in most 
emphatic, and on the whole unregretted, language, my 
most stern repudiation of your father's right to treat 
me in the way and spirit in which he has written ; that 
whilst I deny the charges which he has made, and 
which you and my father have most unkindly "thor- 
oughly endorsed ;" that whilst I trample upon the senti- 
ments which seem to me to be the staple of the letter 

147 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

— especially as I had myself done and said all that man 
could in reversing my impolicy and errors, and con- 
fessing (quite needlessly to him) my folly, and stating 
my heartfelt anguish and regret; that whilst I blame 
him, therefore, as doing me a great wrong in writing 
thus, and a far greater wrong in putting assunder you 
and I whom God had joined together — which I feel 
more than all the rest — yet, notwithstanding all, I can 
say from my heart that though I was angry, I cherish 
no anger regarding or against him, that I am ready to 
forgive and would like to forget his words, and that I 
pray as heartily for him and all his today, and more so, 
as I have done for many long years of my life every 
day. And what I say regarding him, I say regarding 
you, and my own father, whose kind letter is in strange 
contradiction and of opposite spirit to the unkind one 
he "endorsed." 

I will write, if spared, a short letter to you next 
Monday, in case you may not leave Adelaide as I wish 
you to do ; and under any circumstances my letters 
must be few and short now, if you stay longer away 
from me, for two reasons : first, because you wont do 
what is right if you so stay, and therefore can have 
little real love for or interest in me; and second, you 
know that long letters are a very great toil, and take 
too much time, and are never, at the very best, satis- 
factory. 

Now good by, good by. May God be with you and 
lead you in His own right way. May He bless our in- 
nocent and unconscious little lamb, who is always in 
my heart — kiss him now for me. May He bring good 
out of all this, and keep me from sin in my thoughts 
and deeds, and open up the way, and give me strength 
to pursue it, enabling me to work humbly for Him, 
and to maintain and comfort you and our darling. 

148 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

May He breathe the spirit of perfect love, purity, 
and peace upon you, me, and all our relatives. I am, 
Your affectionate husband, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Written three tteefcs later.) 

Dear Wife : 

Your letter of November 5 duly reached me this 
morning. It is a very loving and nice letter in many 
ways, and I was not a little comforted by it. I am glad 
to see that our darling little pet is so well and such 
a little sunbeam of love to you from God. I seem to 
want a little of that sunshine here, for I must confess 
to being in a sadly gloomy condition of heart for the 
most part, and am only brightened up for short inter- 
vals by the necessity of fulfilling my engagements, 
which always help me to get nearer to God — and there 
is perfect love and joy there, you know. Meanwhile, 
it gives me pleasure to know that you seem to be en- 
joying yourself among your friends in and around 
Adelaide, and I trust you are getting stronger every 
day. There are large portions of your letter, though, 
which give me pain. 

I will not enter at present into any examination 
of your arguments and illustrations in favor of your 
father's views of myself and my action. They are very 
well put, and on the whole I must congratulate you 
upon your skill in making out a plausible case against 
your husband, especially as that is done by suppress- 
ing every mitigating circumstance in my favor. 

But your premises are almost wholly unsound, your 
reasonings are inapplicable, and your conclusions are 
unjustifiable. You are looking at all my life, and all 
my work, and all my prospects from a radically wrong 
standpoint, viz, the mere standpoint of worldly suc- 
cess. That is a very good standpoint for worldlings; 

149 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

but it was left behind by me many years ago — ten 
years fully — when I took a new departure for my life. 
If I go back to that — then my whole life since has been 
a huge, a miserable, failure — then I must throw up the 
plow and go back. 

Do you wish it? No. Then what do your com- 
parisons and arguments amount to? 

Just this — you want me to try a judicious mixture 
of serving God and Mammon — and I won't — I can't — 
I will serve God or Mammon — nay, I will serve God 
alone, though I be as poor as the Lord Jesus who had 
no home, or Paul who had not a second coat and was 
out of writing paper, or many other of the heroes of 
God's Kingdom who now inherit the promised riches 
of heaven. But, if fall from that service is possible, 
then it will be when I fail to believe in God, in Jesus 
Christ, in the Bible, in a heaven of Eternal Blessed- 
ness — and, on that day, I will serve Mammon, and 
throw into that service all my energy, and persever- 
ance, and brains, heart, body, and soul, with unceas- 
ing toil, to gain the smile of the world, to ensure its 
honors and rewards, and enjoy them to the full. I 
won't be a fool, to think that I can combine such ser- 
vices, for if the God of the Bible, the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus be not God alone, then I can see 
no reason why every natural desire should not be 
gratified, for there are no guarantees for another ex- 
istence and a nobler life either here or hereafter. 

But if He be — as He is — God alone, then nothing 
can be clearer than that "Love not the world, neither 
the things that are in the world" is a Divine command, 
illustrated by Divine example, to be obeyed upon peril 
of being shut out of His love, for "If any man love the 
world, the love of the Father is not in him." No, no, 
my darling, let us remember "the world passeth away, 
and the lust thereof" — thank our God for that, for it 
has a desire to possess my heart — "but he that doeth 
the will of God abideth forever." 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

But all these thoughts of mine are now before you 
in my letter of October 31 which you had received, I 
suppose, before you sent the telegram which reached 
me on Thursday eve. It may be you did right to send 
that telegram and to stay where you are until you and 
your father wrote to me in reply; but none the less 
clear is it that you have disobeyed me, and my desires 
as to your actions are thwarted by your father's desires 
and your own. You have broken your marriage vow 
— you promised to love, honour, and to obey me. The 
threefold cord is not easily broken ; but if you untwine 
one cord you destroy union. I care not what threats 
were held out, I care not what hopes were held out, I 
care not what gifts were held out before your eyes — 
you should have obeyed me and left at once. God 
made you dependent and you assert independence. It 
matters not that you promised to "do whatever I may 
desire," after I read what your father writes and con- 
siders it ; you are meanwhile divorced — self divorced — 
from me in one of the essentials of true marriage — and 
your father, not me, is your head. He has "put us 
asunder" thus far — money won't mend that breach, 
for the links that bind hearts are not of gold. He gave 
you to me — God, I believed, gave you to me — and now 
he keeps you from me. He has sinned, for he had no 
right to come between us ; and you have sinned, for 
you had no right to allow him to do that. Again I 
say, money, or advice, or rebukes, or anything he can 
do, will never mend that breach. Only God can mend 
it, but God would have been better pleased, I am sure, 
had it never been made — and I am sure I would. 

It does not mend matters to tell me it is only a 
breach for a week or two — how can we tell whether 
it is not forever — the breach is made, the cord is un- 
twisted, obedience as a principle is broken between you 
and I, the vow is broken. Love and Honor are now 
disunited from that Obedience which can alone pre- 

151 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

serve them from destruction and give them perman- 
ence. 

How long, do you think, will our Father in Heaven 
look upon us as loving and honouring Him, when we 
disobey His expressed desires? Not a moment after, 
it seems to me, for our love and honour depends upon 
our obedience to His will as expressed to us by His 
Son and Spirit. "If ye love me, keep my command- 
ments" are His words again and again. We may be, 
and are still His children, though we often disobey; 
but we are none the less sinful — yea, all the more sin- 
ful because inexcusable — when we thus trample upon 
His love, and most plainly dishonour His, by a dis- 
obedience, no mattter how short or in what matter. 
Christ is our Pattern and His life was a life of obedi- 
ence to His Father's will, and thus He showed His 
love and honour of that Father whom a false friend 
had traduced, and a rebel world has scorned. 

And Christ and His Church are our pattern in our 
marriage bond — "as the church is subject unto Christ, 
so let the wives be to their own husbands in every- 
thing". This is a loving and a willing subjection to a 
wise and loving Director, and a true Church obeys at 
once, like the true wife. 

I have expressed no desire that can possibly be con- 
sidered oppressive, and I desire never to be obeyed 
wherein what I wish is contrary to God's Word in 
principle; but if you are to be really my wife you 
must show me your love by your obedience, or else 
we shall be miserable and in a state of spiritual divorce 
— the sense, by the way, in which I use that word on 
the previous page. 

God knows I have striven — no, not striven — have 
done willingly, from my heart, from my great love 
for you, my part of the bond, so far as I could, "to 
love, honour, and comfort" you since our marriage. 
And you are still my wife, if you will have it so, in 
the fullest sense of that term ; but you must not break 

152 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

any of the cords, and you must ask God — aye, and I 
do not say it harsly — me to forgive you for your break- 
ing one of them, and that will mend the breach — for 
my heart yearns to mend it rightly, and infinitely more 
does God's, I am sure. Do you think me too stern, or 
that I overrate the importance of what has happened? 
All I say is, I do not love you less that I am stern, but 
rather prove my love to be yet more strong and true 
that I will let nothing and no one break it if I can 
prevent it, and thus fulfill my vow to protect and 
cherish you ; and as to the great spiritual importance 
of what has happened, the fact itself that my wish that 
you should return to me as speedily as. possible is 
deliberately disregarded and disobeyed, and God's 
Word as to your duty towards me — these two shall be 
our judges, and I leave you to decide what their judg- 
ment proves, that I have not overrated the real charac- 
ter of the breach. It is because "the points" are not at- 
tended to that a railway smash happens — for the train 
gets off the line ; and it is because God's Word is not 
obeyed that families and kingdoms alike are wrecked 
for time and eternity. 

Now Jeanie, my wife, before I married you I sought 
God's guidance and direction, for I wanted a wife of 
God's choosing if I were to get one at all; and you 
know I wooed and won you fairly, for yourself alone. 
Did you marry me for myself alone? I believe you 
did. If so, then circumstances won't alter our case, 
and come riches or poverty, honour or shame, we shall 
be true to each other. But why do you then fail me 
in my hour of need? — do you not think I need some 
one with me now who really loves me? — I think I 
understand now a little more of what Christ felt in 
His last temptation when His "soul was exceeding 
sorrowful even unto death". He took three of His 
loved ones with Him into the garden and said "Tarry 
here, and watch with me." But twice He found "they 
fell asleep" and in the great crisis of His agony He had 

153 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

to pray alone; and when it was past He did not need 
them, for He had overcome. Yet was not the Cup of 
Suffering more bitter that He drank it without the 
sweet, sympathetic love for which even He craved? 
How much more a sinner like me needs that, then. 
And yet, when I say "Come with me — tarry with me — 
watch with me — " I am answered, "Listen to what this 
one whom I trust, and think over it — perhaps you will 
see that it will be better for me not to come — but, 
well — if you should think it — well, then, when you ask 
me again, I'll come then." Ask you again ? No. You 
have been told what I wish, and no letter from any 
one can alter it, and you must act upon that. And yet 
"ask you again?" I shall not, so long as you have 
that word of mine, "Come at once", in your hands and 
memory. 

If you are really, wholly mine in your heart you 
will come without delay. This is a test of your love 
which I had never designed; but you don't bear it 
well, it seems to me, thus far. Depend upon it, no let- 
ter will alter my opinion as to your duty. 

Amongst the many portions of God's Word which 
claimed my attention before I asked you to be my 
wife was 1st Corinthians, chapter 7. It is one which 
is, in its way, a most mysterious utterance — and 
seems to be in parts only semi-inspired (see verses 
6, 25, 40) and in other parts fully inspired, (see verses 
10, 17 etc.) therefore it must be read with care and 
applied with caution. Anyway, it kept me from caring 
for marriage for a long time, and made me rather 
afraid of it. But I got over it, rightly, as I thought, 
when I found you had such a place in my heart; and 
the three verses, (3 to 5,) have acquired since that 
time for me a meaning which they could not, and did 
not, have before. When I see how Satan has tempted 
and destroyed many around me thus, then I desire the 
wish I have expressed to be obeyed. 

And do not misunderstand me — I do not say I am 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

so tempted, but I am very human, and Satan is not 
dead, as I find to my sorrow every day. The exhor- 
tation at the same time has its meaning and lesson 
and those who are wise will learn it. Verses 29 to 31 
are very serious and needed words, for who can say 
how short the time may be for our life here at all — 
I always seem to have the thought that my time may 
be very, very short ; and but for Christ's work and you 
and my darling boy, I really do not care how short it 
may be for my own part. My life seems to be so out 
of gear with things around, and it is so hard to fight 
on alone for truth and purity as sometimes I seem to 
be doing, that I could sometimes wish 

"I could see Christ's face in the City 

Of everlasting strength ; 
And sit down under the shadow 

Of His smile, 
With great delight and thanksgiving, 

To rest awhile." 

Yes, only for that sense of an unfulfilled mission, 
sometimes I think an un-begun mission, I could say 
"Make room for me and take me home"; but remem- 
bering the poor day's work my life would show, I am 
filled with shame and sorrow, almost with despair, and 

"So at times 

The thought of my shortcomings in this life 
Falls, like a shadow, on the life to come." 

Scarcely a word of cheer seems to come just now 
to help me onward in my path from anywhere; yet 
I have laboured hard for others' good, but it is a toil 
which has almost no reward but suffering and weari- 
ness here — loss and pain, neglect and contempt. 

And yet, right certain am I it is the noblest of ser- 
vices, with the best of Masters, and richest reward. 

155 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

But yet I seem to cry in vain, "Have pity upon 
me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends ; for the hand 
of God hath touched me !" But I am wrong to cry thus 
at all — I turn to God whose hand hath touched me — 
He is my Friend, were there none other, and there is 
love in all His ways. The hand that permitted afflic- 
tion to come, can send consolation — that touch is life 
and peace. 

I shall wait with such patience as God can give me, 
an intimation of your intention to obey me at once 
or not. I expect it at once to be given, and for your 
sake, for our child's sake, for — perhaps, since I know 
not what is best — my own sake — I say more, for the 
sake of the work Christ the Lord hath given me — for 
all these reasons, I expect to hear from you at once 
that you have taken your passage for Melbourne, un- 
less you have any request from me to the contrary by 
telegram. It may be that your father's letter, which 
will reach me I suppose either this week or on Monday 
next, will cause me to alter my desires; but if so, it 
will be because I see from it that your heart is changed 
still more, and that some other cord is broken, in 
which case you had better stay where you are until 
your heart is right, for I could not wish you back again 
if that were so. 

My perplexities are many, but the greatest one of 
all is yourself. I can bear anything but the continu- 
ance of your absence ; and I will not write one word to 
you concerning my prospects or intentions while you 
are under your father's roof, unless something totally 
unforeseen should happen, and this letter is only as 
long as it is by reason of the importance I attach to 
your course of action, and the actual consequences 
of it already. Your place is here now. I can bear no 
more of this strain upon my heart, and mind, for it 
will render me entirely useless should it last long. 

Remember me to my father and mother. You say 
that I do not understand my father, and that he loves 

156 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

me. I never doubted his love ; but I do not understand 
him, though you know I love him — and yet more sure 
am I that he does not understand me. But I do not, 
certainly, want quarrel with either him or your father 
— I only want to take care in the future never again 
to give either of them occasion to say bitter things to 
me. It is the first time in his life your father ever had 
a chance of doing me a kind action in my affairs — I 
did not ask him even to do it, when he pounces upon 
me like a nasty bulldog, and jumps straight at my 
throat, as if I were a ragged beggar at his kitchen door. 
Do you think that is likely to enable me to honour 
him more? Do you think I am likely to turn out my 
pockets, to show him how poor I am, in answer to his 
growling demand? Do you think I am particularly 
delighted with the sight of you and my father stand- 
ing patting him on the back, and bidding him to go at 
me, till I cry for mercy and lie down with his paw 
upon me, whilst he examines the contents of my pock- 
ets, and then, if I am a very submissive beggar, he 
will share with me some of his bones? No, no, 'tis 
all a mistake, I lam not a beggar at your gate — no, nor 
at any man's — and even if I am to lose all I have, 
and even were that not enough to pay my debts — yet 
will I not beg, for I can work, will work, ay, and am 
working. I can go out of the ministry altogether if 
need be — but I will be free; and I do not fear I shall 
die in debt, if God spares my life, and maintains me 
in strength. Nor do I fear that I can keep you and 
train my boy by my own honest labour. Never was 
debt incurred with less design to be debt at all. I have 
been a miserably foolish man to trust in men at all, he 
says ; but does not your father trust in them every day 
and have not they trusted him — or where would he 
be today? But I won't go back to the matter — ex- 
cepting to say this : bid him to leave me alone and 
growl away no more. If I were even to be compelled 
to become an insolvent (you first used the ugly word 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

to me) I would not ask him to come between me and 
that — I would drink my cup to its deepest dregs rather 
— and I would rise again with an untarnished name : for 
if I lived no man should suffer loss through me. Please 
keep him back from me if you can. I want no more 
letters from him of the last kind. 

And if you are coming to me, come at once; and 
bring nothing but what you took back with you again, 
for I won't have his gifts at all, and I do not want to 
have any controversy with him. I have never cringed 
before any man and never will. I love all men (I 
don't love all their ways, by any means) but I fear 
none. 

Bitterly as I have felt what it is to be poor, I have 
never had the worse, infinitely worse, bitterness which 
consists in the meanness of soul which dwells in many 
who are called rich (poor, poor indeed are they) and 
can kick and trample upon a man because he is poor, 
or delight to see him grateful for their wasted crumbs 
as he lies at their gates full of sores. 

Often and often have I given my last shilling to the 
hungry and needy during many years, (and if ever 
I gave what was not mine it was unconsciously) and 
I never regret that I did, for even I can say "I delivered 
the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that 
had none to help him. The blessing of him that was 
ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the wid- 
ow's heart to sing for joy". I have not lived for self, 
and never will, by God's help. And whilst I exercise 
more care and wisdom in my money matters, yet I 
will not cease to live for God, and to live for men, and 
to live for the Blessed Inheritance above. 

Need I ask you to acquit me of self-righteous boast- 
ing in all this? Surely not, for you know I trust not 
in my works for any acceptance with God ; but it is 
well at this time of reproach to remind one's self that 
the past has not been all "a bad beginning", and to 

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THE PEKSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

feel that I may say with that grand old man, Dr. 
Guthrie, that 

"I live for those that love me, 

For those that know me true, 
For the heaven that smiles above me, 

And waits my coming, too; 
For the cause that needs assistance, 

For the wrongs that need resistance, 
For the future in the distance, 

For the good that I can do." 

And I will not surrender an atom of my independ- 
ence to your father in the slightest degree. I have 
never received a word of encouragement from him 
when I have been in a conflict and sorely need sym- 
pathy, and I have no confidence in the love that is 
simply represented by a pair of taws, or, as you have 
called it, "a tonic". It is a farce to treat a man and 
Christian minister of over thirty years of age, who 
has been fighting the battle of life alone for ten years 
of no ordinary temptation, trial, and toil, and who 
fought it very much alone in many ways for a good 
many years before — I say it is a perfect farce to treat 
him as a naughty child, or bully him as a compound 
of fool and knave and ne'er-do-well. 

The fact that I have got on thus far, with at least 
some measure of success, and with as bright prospects 
as ever in some respects, and certainly with larger 
powers than ever before, augurs something different, 
and deserves better treatment. My life is far from 
what I could wish it to be; but I would not fear to 
leave the judgment of its usefulness to compare with 
that of my self-constituted inquisitor and judge. He 
is your father and I do not forget it ; but the time has 
come for me to say that in becoming his son-in-law I 
did not give him the control of myself or of my affairs, 
and I accepted a solemn trust in receiving you as my 

159 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

wife which I have not in the slightest degree consci- 
ously failed to perform. If he interferes any more 
with that trust by your acquiescence, then he has no 
sense of his true position towards God and us in this 
matter, and you will place me in a most serious position 
toward you. 

Oh, my love, do not place me, by your action, in 
that position — for who can tell what may follow? 

My hands are still very full of work, and yesterday 
was a very trying day for me to preach. Ever since 
receiving your telegram I had much depression of 
heart, and my mind reverted to the words of the Lord 
to Peter — "Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired 
to have you that he might sift you as wheat ; but I have 
prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not, and when thou 
art converted strengthen thy brethren." "Out of the 
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," and I 
find I comforted others with the precious thoughts 
which are contained in these deeply mysterious and yet 
assuring words — thoughts which had comforted me 
not a little. 

There is much sickness. Altogether, it seems to be 
setting in very much as it did about two years ago, 
and from similar causes I fear — a defective water 
supply, and the want of drainage, etc. Newtown is by 
no means earning a good name for its healthfulness — 
we are higher sometimes in our death rate than any 
other suburb. I dread a time of fever again amongst 
us — though it may be that the symptoms will pass 
away. All this adds to m}^ work and anxiety. 

Kiss again and again my little darling for me. He 
and you are ever in my heart, and many times every 
day in my prayers, that God will bless you and keep 
you, and bring you to me soon in safety again. Do 
not fail me this time. 

I am, 

Ever your affectionate husband, 

John Alexander Dowie. 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

(Dated at Camden Street, Newtown, Sidney, N. S. Wales, Nov. 
19, '77 — roife restored to his heart — expresses contrition for letter sent 
— complains of slate of body and mind — tells of dream.) 

My Beloved Wife : 

Your two long and loving and satisfactory letters 
of 10th and 12th are now before me, and I thank God 
that I can once more feel that there is no fear in your 
love for me, and no doubt in my heart as to your be- 
ing wholly and truly my own trustful and beloved 
wife. Surely then I may praise God for this token of 
good, and be grateful to Him that He so directed my 
thoughts and guided my pen that I was enabled to 
break the horrid spell of the Enchanter, Fear, who had 
well nigh alienated us in heart, under the most spec- 
ious of pretenses. I fear this victory may lead me, if 
I do not take care, in the toils of an Enchantress 
named Vanity : for I cannot help remembering that 
twice I have won you to my heart by my pen, which 
has stretched across the lands and seas, and gained 
each time "a famous victory." 

But I must say that I not only give God the glory, 
since, so far as I was right, He gave me the thoughts 
and the power to express them, but I have no desire 
to fight such battles again — especially the last — or 
gain any more such costly victories. Madame Vanity 
cannot make me forget that she is a full sister to that 
villianous scoundrel Fear, nor can I forget the hard 
knocks and deep wounds and many heart agonies I 
suffered in the fight, and the danger which I felt there 
was lest I should injure you, my beloved, whilst 
fighting to get you out of the hand of your enemy — 
a man had need to be a good marksman who would 
shoot a lion as it was bounding off into the forest in 
triumph with his "one little ewe lamb." It is the sort 
of experiment, Madame Vanity, which one does not 
care to repeat; and I trust that my darling "ewe 
lamb" which I have given of "my own meat," which 
has drunk of "my own cup," and which lies "in my 

6 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OP JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

bosom" — my own dear wife — will not be enticed away 
again either by cunning foxes or roaring lions. 

Nothing could be more complete than your resto- 
ration to my heart after receiving your letters ; and my 
only regrets were, first, that there was ever any cloud 
between us — though even that we shall yet see was 
overruled for good — , and second, that there was a 
letter of mine upon the way, which was written and 
sent before I received either of yours, that might pain 
you needlessly. 

However, I dispatched a telegram ahead of it, 
which has, I trust, taken away its sting. I only wish 
it could have brought it back to me unknown to you: 
for it is the letter I least like in all I have written, in 
some parts at least, which I need not now particular- 
ize. Just look upon it as another shot fired by me into 
the body of the aforesaid lion, which my first shot 
had killed outright, though I knew it not; and forgive 
me, if I have borne too hardly upon you, as fully and 
freely as I forgive you. 

When I wrote that letter I was very weary in heart 
and in body, and had to begin late on Monday night 
after a heavy day's work. The shadow of death, too, 
seemed to rest upon me, and I finished it, you saw, 
after leaving a death bed. 

Your letters have driven my weariness of heart 
away, as the sun drives away the mists of the night 
— and proved a true comforter from God. To see you 
so truly one with me again, and to know that even your 
father had been so favorably affected by what was, I 
must confess, rather stern handling in some parts, 
was so unexpected and complete a change of the 
whole situation of affairs, that it seemed too good to 
be true, and my heart found relief in what you women 
call "a good cry," and a very grateful tribute of praise 
and prayer to God. 

Thus strengthened I wrote my notes, and went off to 
the Convention and made what Dr. S — called a "first 



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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

class speech," and at the end of the day, when we all 
left the Exhibition Building together, he took my arm 
and walked down the street with me, telling me that 
my little address was "the most finished and able 
speech at the Convention." 

So you see your letter helped me greatly — it was 
a Love Cordial, and that is a million times better than 
all the Critical Tonic that was ever manufactured. 

I had been drooping very, very much. I was 
strengthened, and filled to overflowing with suitable 
thought for my speech — wifely love and obedience 
and trustfulness and prayer was rewarded by God, 
and I just struck a few notes of truth of which more 
will be heard 

At the same time I cannot help feeling very sorry 
to see this spirit among the brethren; and 
while I am quite conscious that I was saying the 
thing which was right and true, and trying to say it in 
a right way, as I am quite sure I was saying it with a 
loving spirit and the highest motives, yet I often ques- 
tion my own heart sharply as to why I never seem to 
get along with some classes of minds — and these not a 
few in the Christian Church — to whom my words seem 
to act like a red rag does upon a bull which, until it 
sees the color, is feeding quietly in the meadow. Noth- 
ing could have been further from my desire than to 
give needless personal offense — there was no personal 
antagonism in my mind at all — but yet the application 
seemed to be made. 

I hate "strife amongst the herdsmen," for I know 
the enemy rejoices; and I make none, so far as I can 
prevent it or avoid it without sacrificing principle; 
but that I cannot and dare not do : for every good prin- 
ciple is just a Divine truth, and it is not mine to sur- 
render, if I would, but God's gift, which I must use 
as a talent and account for, when the Lord and Chief 
Shepherd of all the shepherds shall appear — for when 
He cometh "He reckoneth with them." Still, I am 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

but human and would fain avoid wounds like these, 
even though I may be quite right, if only I could 
without sin; and I am sorry most of all to think that 
those whom God has sent to bring in the outcast, 
weary wanderers, or foolish prodigals, or defiant reb- 
els — who are yet God's children though far away — 
I say, I am sorry to think that those who go out to 
seek or bring them in seem to be so careless in their 
mission, and so angry, should one of their number 
show how very far it is from being accomplished. 

What will the Lord say to you and I, if we leave 
undone the great work He has given us to do — work 
which, so far as we shall be concerned in the doing of 
it, will remain forever undone? Only think of what 
God would do by us if we were wholly consecrated to 
Him; and when I think what a wasted life so much 
of mine has been, and how poor and miserable is its 
best, I am overwhelmed with shame and almost filled 
with heart sickening despair. Very far am I from feel- 
ing holier than others, even though I point out where- 
in we have erred and should now labour. 

But really my digression has carried me quite far 
enough and I must return to the subject from whence 
these remarks about my work has sprung — and that 
is your last letters. 

I have already said how much they have cheered 
me, and especially the first of the two, and how fully 
your frank admission and loving, trustful expressions 
have won my heart and comforted it. But no words 
can express how much I needed that comfort: for" I 
had an awful fear sometimes tempting me to doubt 
what the issue would be; and the picture of our 
wrecked lives would force itself upon my imagination 
in unrefreshing sleep at night, and interfere with me 
in every engagement by day. My nerves seem to have 
been a good deal shaken during the past month, and 
I have felt that until I could see exactly how your 
heart stood that I could determine nothing concerning 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

my affairs, for everything hung upon that. And now 
that I do know how you stand, now that you are ready 
to do whatever I wish, and that I see from your let- 
ters that your delay to come at once did not arise from 
any spirit of resistance to my wishes — I am yet still 
unable to state my desires or form my plans, until 
I receive your father's letter for which you have asked 
me to wait and give consideration. 

Meanwhile, I am in a very weak, nervous frame 
of body and mind — my brain seems to be sometimes 
charged with blood to bursting point, and I do not 
eat or sleep very well, — and though my judgment and 
actions are pretty cool — I am resting at home for a 
day or two except in the evenings — yet I am conscious 
that the agitation of the past few weeks has shaken, 
not my resolutions, but my powers to carry them out ; 
and I must confess that I feel less able to face the 
work that lies before me, and the arrangement of my 
affairs, now, than I did a month ago. I feel that after 
your loving conduct towards me, I should be stronger ; 
but I am only a man, and a very weak one after all, 
you are far away, and I am very lonely in the midst 
of my busy life, and seem to want some of that Cordial 
every day which helped me so much last week — in 
short, there's no question about it, you want me, and 
I want you and my little darling — it is not good for 
me to be alone. 

I feel that I can do nothing, meanwhile, having 
determined to await your father's letter, and especially 
after the way — so much better than I at all expected 
he would, in which he received my perhaps too vigor- 
ously worded letter to you. 

I am sincerely sorry that he expresses himself so 
unfortunately; but of course I could see nothing be- 
yond what he had written to me, what you reported of 
his sayings to you, their manifest effect upon you, and 
now the confirmation of my conjectures as to his in- 
fluence upon your mind and direction of your attitude 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

towards me, in your confession that your letters, and 
especially the one accompanying his, was written at 
his distinct command — for you say, "He told me to 
write more decidedly upon the matter, and I just sat 
down and wrote that letter without thinking a bit 
what it was about or how you would take it, and in 
fact I do not know what was in it;" — surely a most 
foolish thing to do, and a wrong thing to require. 
Candidly, then, you must admit, and you do, that I put 
upon his letter its apparently correct interpretation; 
and desirous as I am not to bear too hardly upon him 
— for I do love him and them all very dearly — are 
they not my nearest, next to you, to whom I owe and 
feel respect and love? — I say, that though I wish to 
spare him, you must permit me to say that he not only 
failed in a correct conception of my whole position 
(for which my imperfect letter to him may be in some 
degree to blame) and, worse still, he failed to realize 
his changed position towards you, now that you are 
my wife; for though he can never change in his rela- 
tion to you as your father, yet his power to direct you 
has passed away by his own consent and God's ordina- 
tion into other hands. That is the cardinal mistake 
which he made ; and now that he sees something of 
these mistakes — from what you have written I infer 
that — surely I can overlook them : for after all they 
sprung from his great love for you, his child, and he 
evidently thinks with me, and there we fully agree, 
that we cannot love you too much. 

We, too, may one day need to take care that we 
do not interfere with the prerogative of some fire-eater 
of a son-in-law ; and, looking forward to that extremely 
questionable future occasion, had better not sow re- 
grets that we were not more considerate. In short, 
you know me too well to think I would wilfully pain 
anyone, much less our father and mother who love 
you, even if they do not me, with so true and strong 
a love ; and I only wanted to preserve my prerogatives 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

without infringing upon theirs, and my right to dispose 
of my life as God might direct, without wishing to re- 
fuse their right to advise in a proper way — not in the 
way of the man who had "a donkey that wouldn't go." 
Then, they must not think that they are not respected 
because their advice is not always taken : for if I were 
to take a tithe of the contradictory advice which has 
been given me during the last ten years, I should 
come to a dead stop and do nothing. I would be like 
the captain of a steamer who stopped his engines be- 
cause one passenger was sick and could not bear the 
vibration of the screws; or reversed them because 
some one wanted to go back to port; or send at high 
pressure all the way to please another passenger who 
wanted to see what could be done without bursting; 
or pulled up and lowered a boat, because a child de- 
manded that his toy which had gone overboard should 
be got back for him. 

When, do you think, that captain would accomplish 
his voyage? Never! 

And even so it is with every man's life. The path 
each man has to tread is before unknown and untrod- 
den : for the time that lies in the future no eye but 
the Eternal God's hath seen; the circumstances of 
every man differs from every other and from all that 
ever preceded him, in many important matters; and 
though the experience of the past and present must be 
studied and not ignored, for it is of very great value, 
yet it can never be a guide for any man's future or for 
another man's path entirely — only God who knows 
all can be a safe Guide into the unknown (and that is 
life), and His Word is the Chart, and the Spirit is the 
Guide, which leads us into the path which Christ has 
trod before us — the only safe and true Way of Life. 
Therefore, with all love let me say it, I will take no ad- 
vice from any one which differs from the Chart; and 
I desire to give none but what agrees with that. This 
is my one answer regarding advice. 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

God is too loving to leave us without sailing di- 
rections. They differ, doubtless, from those of the 
god of this evil world, just in the same way that the 
"Trinity House" charts differ from unauthorized and 
erroneous maps; and if we want to be God-directed 
we shall go by the Bible, and if we want to be Devil- 
directed we shall go by the world. 'Tis a most serious 
matter to give or receive advice from any man; and 
'tis a yet more serious matter to follow or to reject 
it — I never do either lightly. But seeing I have been 
left so much with God and His Chart for my only 
advisers during many years, I have become accus- 
tomed not to commune with flesh and blood, but to go 
straight to God with every difficulty and trust Him 
in every danger. Then, when I get into the world, I 
do not run about asking every one to advise me — I go 
right on with the thing that seems to me to be right, 
and that is by no means always or often the thing 
which seems pleasantest or safest. I find it comes 
out right always, and if ever it does not come out so, 
it is because I have allowed men's opinions and ad- 
vice to over-rule my serious convictions. This habit 
of mine no doubt makes it sometimes appear that I am 
impulsive, when I am only earnestly working out 
previously matured decisions — and gives a color to the 
charge of egoistic isolation (I do not think it is a gen- 
eral charge against me though), when I am only deeply 
conscious of my individual responsibility to obey clear, 
Divine direction. 

Explain this to your father, and tell him that 
though I am deeply conscious of being but a poor 
exponent of my "sailing directions", and make many 
very stupid mistakes, yet I am determined to sail more 
closely by them in future, and that all the trouble 
which I now have in earthly matters is of my own 
making to a certain extent, and arises from my fol- 
lowing human advice rather than the Trinity House 
Chart of the Bible. 



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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

One think I must just at once say in the frankest 
way before it comes, that from what you and my 
father have said, I acquit you both of "thoroughly en- 
dorsing" his letter — though it was less his fault than 
yours that he so wrote because you both acquiesced ; 
and, further, your statements have proved to me most 
conclusively that he did not intend either to insult or 
injure me, and I am very sorry if I have seemed to in- 
sult him in any way by my expressions, some of which 
I would be prepared to greatly modify — and I say this 
hoping for nothing, but simply because it is right to 
express my regret, even though none of you have said 
that he complained. Indeed, it seems very generous 
of him to praise the "ability and talent" of a letter 
which dealt so severely with his letter to me; and I 
respect him all the more for the remark, which is, I 
fear, more flattering than it is deserved — for my letter 
was simply an honest examination of his, to a large 
extent, and made no claim to anything of a "masterly" 
sort, since literary achievement was not in all my 
thoughts. Please tell him what I say, and that I will 
wait for his letter before writing to him. 

Now, my darling, there is but one thing in your 
letters that I do not like. I fear you are in danger of 
rushing now to the other extreme and thinking far too 
highly of me. I thank you for the true, wifely love 
which makes you to say so heartily that you will do 
anything and go with me anywhere, to prove your 
love for me ; and I did long to have you near me when 
I read these words. You know I will never take ad- 
vantage of such love to ask you to do aught that is 
wrong; and, indeed, you know that such love as this 
is the surest of safeguards to our happiness: for I 
would give my life to bless you. 

But I did fear, when I read that you had seemed 
to make me your interpreter with God instead of go- 
ing to Him direct yourself, for "when you left me you 
fell." And no wonder, my darling, when you rested 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

and relied upon so puny a creature as I am — so poor an 
interpreter of God's love and power. But I am sure 
you exaggerate and wrong yourself. 

Our union was indeed sweet and unbroken, and I 
did try to sustain you, but you greatly helped me, my 
love, and by your patient gentleness bound me more 
than ever to you, and especially from the time when 
we first knew God was going to send us our little 
Sunbeam. Yet, dear, we must take care of idolatry: 
for God will give us sorrow if we place any creature 
before Him. Let us both love Him more, and we 
shall love each other more purely; let us lean on Him 
for strength, and we shall be strong to help each other; 
let us seek His Spirit to be our interpreter, and we 
shall be wise to instruct each other — and our darling 
one too — and so shall we walk aright, and walk in 
the light, trusting in Him who is our life. 

"Help us, O Lord, with patient love to bear 
Each other's faults, to suffer with true meekness ; 
Help us each other's joys and griefs to share, 
But let us turn to Thee alone in weakness." 

Some day, — who can tell how soon it may be — I 
may be taken from you, and oh, it would be dreadful 
if I were your only guide and strength; yea, and I 
might fall — may God forbid it in His mercy, and how 
awful to have only a broken reed as your stay — no; 
let us trust in Him whom neither Death nor Sin can 
affect ; and then we shall be strong to help each other, 
and our love will be sweeter and purer, and our child 
will live to bless the world yet, and we shall meet 
again in the Beautiful City of our Beloved King. I 
am sure, my dearest love, that at bottom you and I 
see alike in this matter, only I thought it was right 
for me to refer to the only thing I did not like in your 
loving letters, because it would offend God for me to 
even seem to rob Him of His glory. 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

At the same time I will always give you, and you 
know it, all the help I can ; and when we come together 
again, if the Lord spares us, we must pray more to- 
gether and read God's Word more together, and talk 
over it at regular times. But, my love, when I think 
of how imperfectly I have discharged my duties to 
you in many ways, and when I know how weak and 
foolish and sinful I so often am and have been, I can 
only wonder at God's mercy in giving me so comfort- 
ing a love as yours is to me. My heart longs for the 
time when we shall prove to each other how true it 
is that our love never was broken, and that now it is 
stronger than ever. May we live so good and pure a 
life that we shall not fail to get through all our dif- 
ficulties, see the work of the Lord prospering in our 
hands, and leave to our children the legacy of a good 
name and the memory of a good life — I have no higher 
wish, and no other, except to see them well cared for 
so far as I can in worldly things, if God pleases. 

Oh, how poor all speech is to express one's 
thoughts, and how especially poor is written speech! 
There are a thousand things I want to say to you, 
there is nothing which I would withhold from you, 
were you only here to look in my face and hear my 
words, and ask me what you needed to understand. 
How it would give relief to my full heart and weary 
head! But I cannot attempt to express some things 
at all : especially some things which I am greatly 
tempted to be anxious about, and indeed concerning 
which there is room for reasonable anxiety, in one 
sense. Troubles shared are half solved, I believe ; and 
a lonely man's heart has a terrible tendency to feed 
upon itself, and in unsatisfied hunger to gnaw and 
wear itself away to ease its pain — thereby only in- 
creasing it. 

I had the other night a half waking dream — I can't 
recall it all, but it was something like this : A lion from 
the jungle, through which we were traveling, rushed 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

forth and with a roar, seizing you in its mouth, dashed 
back again into the dense forest, ere I could even raise 
my hand or utter a sound. Immediately I grasped a 
rifle and followed on, but lost sight of you soon. How- 
ever, I toiled on and on to reach the lion's den through 
the damp, slimy bog and thick undergrowth, until at 
last I came to a place where I was told by some one 
that the lion would have to pass that way to reach its 
den. There I stood and carefully laid my gun across 
a little withered branch and placed it to my shoulder 
prepared to fire as the lion passed. Soon it came, 
walking slowly, carrying you along in its teeth. I fired 
— it fell dead — and you came towards me with a cry 
of joy. But just at that moment, when I would have 
run to meet you, I felt myself held back and at the 
same time a pressure upon my breast and a choking 
sensation in my throat. The gun fell from my hands 
as I looked, and saw that a great serpent had coiled 
itself around my legs and body ; and there was its hor- 
rid head raised to strike, and the coils were tightened 
around me — with a shriek I grasped the monster 
around the neck just beneath its head with both my 
hands — and awoke ! 

'Twas not a pleasant dream, and it abides with me 
despite my self-childings — at least at times. But I just 
feel the best way to interpret it is that the lion was 
your fear, from which you are now, thank God, free, 
and that the serpent is my cares which have been coil- 
ing around me while I was anxious about you; and 
now I just ask God for strength to grasp them firmly 
and crush them by as prompt action as I can. When 
I get your father's letter I will act at once to settle 
the best I can at the bank and with others — anything 
rather than that serpent, even were I left with bare 
life; but God will see me through, I believe, and then 
you must come back as soon as you can, and we shall 
live in Sydney quietly with our pet whilst I begin 
the new work in the city to which I feel more and more 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

every day that God calls me. Now, darling, even the 
telling you this queer dream has eased my heart, and 
I earnestly beg you will not let it trouble yours — but 
pray for me, pray for me, and believe that God is hear- 
ing and answering you. It will grieve me to think 
you should fear again. 

You told me, dearest love, that you had prayed and 
felt answered on Wednesday week, about 11 at night, 
seeking God to forgive you and to comfort me. Well, 
it is very strange, but that night I was very much com- 
forted by God. After the service Mr. A — came home 
with me and we had a nice, comforting chat; he left 
me about 11 o'clock, and I went out with him to the 
gate. The sky was a glorious sight, all tremulous with 
countless stars in the cloudless midnight. I stood there 
for a few minutes after he left, and a great peace came 
into my heart whilst I gazed upon all that infinite 
glory of creation and thought how sinful it was to 
doubt the love of the Creator, the infinite pity of my 
Heavenly Father for His foolish child. Then that 
night you prayed for me in Melbourne, and its an- 
swer, came to my mind; and another night in May of 
last year when we were betrothed and we walked 
home from my father's together; and another, our 
starlight drive to Alma. My heart was full of you 
then, and these lines which I repeated to you then 
came into my mind with peculiar force and meaning: 

"The sun is the eye of day, 

Yet its light conceals 
The sight of a thousand suns 

Which night reveals. 

And love is the sun of life, 

Yet its light conceals 
The vision of ampler love 

Which death reveals." 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OP JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

And thinking thus, I felt comforted with this 
thought, that the darkness of death would only be the 
introduction to the revelation for us both of that 
ampler love which we long for now — and I felt I could 
wait, if need were, till then for you to love me fully. 
Comforted with God's peace I went to sleep — as I 
do now at the midnight hour, praying that He whose 
watchful care never slumbers may guard and bless 
you both through the night. . . 

I feel rather better today, and a good deal more 
hopeful in spirit; but yet I am not what I ought to 
be with so many precious promises. My passage for 
noonday is: "Thine expectation shall not be cut off." 

"Though thy sky be over clouded 
Though thy path be dark and drear, 

Though thy soul with doubt be shrouded, 
Oh, let Faith still conquer Fear." 

And really it is so with me I trust — only that when 
one is not over well one is apt to look at the darkest 
side of things, especially when much alone. No doubt 
days of darkness have their good side, but I can get 
along best with spiritual sunshine — and I know I shall 
get it soon again. Let your heart be at perfect rest 
concerning our future, for it is in the best of hands, 
come what may. I can see that future far more clearly 
than I can solve the mysteries of the immediate pres- 
ent. 

I seem like a man who has his goal in sight on 
some mountain side, but there lies between a misty 
valley, where the fogs cover all from his eyes, as he 
passes through them, across the little river from 
whence they rise. Going on, going on, watching, pray- 
ing and working, is all I can do, certain that whatever 
happens I shall get out on the right side ; but I won't 
turn back because I can't see all I would like of the 
road before me 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Dearest love, there have been so many interrup- 
tions to this letter, and it is so incoherent and such a 
thing of shreds and patches that I am ashamed of it. 

Writing is so cumbrous and unsatisfactory a mode 
of expression, and I do so long to have you so near me 
that you can see what I mean, as you used to, without 
roundabout speech. I have quite lost all conceit of 
my powers as a letter writer to you: for what I have 
written is so imperfect an expression of what I mean. 
"Language is slow. . . Yet there's a lore, 
Simple and sure — the language of the soul, 
Told through the eye — for oft the stammering lip 
Marreth the perfect thought. . . 
But the heart's lightning hath no obstacle; 
Quick glances, like the thrilling wires, transfuse 
The telegraphic look!" 

For instance, all through these letters I seem to 
have said very little about our darling little boy; and 
yet he has such a large place in my heart and thought. 
I would find speech here very inadequate ; and yet I 
read all you say about him — as indeed I do all your 
letters — over and over, and over and over again. 

You must tell him that father does love him, oh, so 
much; and that when he comes back I will sing to 
him, and make all sorts of speeches to him, and play 
bopeep, and give him rides upon my head, and laugh 
until he laughs again, and steal him from mother for 
ever so long. And oh, I do so long that he may be a 
good, noble hearted man if he lives — free from all 
pride, and meanness, and self-seeking, and filled with 
gentleness and generosity, and coveting earnestly the 
best gifts, above all the gift of Divine love, the greatest 
of God's gifts. 

Sometimes I feel that God has given to us a very 
especial mark of His favor in our darling, whose future 
will be a blessing to thousands and tens of thousands; 
and I pray that even now the foundation of that light 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

may be wisely laid by us. You have, my darling, a 
glorious work in hand — to you God has given the im- 
planting of those first principles which affect the whole 
formation of character and conduct — and let your eye, 
my love, be clear and without cloud or doubt — for his 
will reflect yours; and let your heart go out, as I be- 
lieve it does, in all your looks and acts to our dear son. 

There are three songs, my love, which I think 
every mother who wants to see how God's Spirit can 
fill a mother's heart with joy and strength and hope 
should sing. Just look them up and sing them in your 
soul today. The first is Hannah's song (1 Samuel 
2: 1 — 10); the second, Elizabeth's song (Luke 1: 41 
— 45) ; and the third is Mary's song (Luke 1 : 46 — 55). 
You will see in all these many beautiful thoughts 
of inspired motherly hope and expectation that will act 
like guiding stars to you in your wishes and efforts 
for our little gift from God. 

And now, even while writing this page, I have 
received quite an unexpected joy — a letter from you; 
and I am delighted, my darling, with a picture which it 
gives me of the little scene you describe when you 
gathered the little ones around you, with our darling 
listening on your knee, and read to them the parable 
of the Sword and the King and the Palace. I fear 
it was rather deep for them ; but I feel we often err in 
thinking of the capacity of children, who, because they 
fail to develop when young, often grow up with all 
their "chambers of imagery" closed up, darkened, con- 
tracted and empty. 

And this reminds me of a little poem which you 
and I have read together, but which I will copy out 
here for you. I feel it is in season now : for I see many 
beautiful and most lovable girls spoiled through their 
foolish pride and affectation. 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

■ At the brook, a maiden glancing, 

Saw a form divine: 
Said she, all her heart exulting, 

"That fair form is mine." 

As she spoke, an angel whispered 

"Maiden, heaven is fair;" 
Said the maiden to the angel : 

"Angel, take me there." 

"Maiden," said the angel sadly, 

"Heaven is for the fair." 
"Therefore," said the maiden proudly, 

"Angel, take me there." 

At the Gates, the glory burning, 

Smote her soul with dread. 
"Angel, from that awful glory 
"Hide me," said the maid. 

Then the angel, gently soothing, 

Drew His robe aside, 
"Maiden, in this wounded Bosom, 

Wounded souls may hide." 

"O my Saviour, pierced and wounded, 

Heaven is for the fair; 
I have sinned, but Thou art holy, 

Cleanse me, bring me there." 

And the loving Saviour gently 

Drew her to His breast, 
Made her fair, and at the gateway, 

Thro' the glory pressed. 

You can't think how I am wearying for you, since 
I got these three nice letters which I read so often and 
feel so happy over, now that I know you are all my 

177 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

own again. Dearest, I want home comfort and love 
to strengthen for the public service to which I am 
called, and it is a service which will tax every power 
I possess. There is only one thing lacking to make 
my life when you are with me the happiest on earth — 
and that is enough money to set me free from care; 
but God sees best, I doubt not, and if I have only faith 
to "cast on Him my every care", and go on wisely 
doing His work, then I have the happiest lot on earth. 
I believe all will be well — the happiest days are yet in 
store, and I feel that if spared there is better work by 
far in me than has ever come out of me. I am young 
yet, ay and on the whole a strong man ; and with you 
perfectly trusting and loving God and me — why I 
shall feel fit for anything, my darling love. 

Tell M — I was very glad to hear she was "well and 
keeping well," and I hope the new arrival is also well 
(is it the seventh or eighth? I really forget). Why, 
what a thriving family tree we are getting! Perhaps 
centuries hence we shall be looked upon as the stem 
of a noble race. May God grant that every generation 
shall become better and purer and nobler than its 
predecessor. Who would have thought that those 
two poor Alloa boys, and that quiet, calm, almost 
mythical man, our grandfather, who died so young — 
I say, who would have thought, seeing them, that they 
would have been the roots of this fair family tree, 
which seems to be entering upon a far spreading life? 
I have often thought of that grandfather of whom so 
little is known, — except just one thing I now remem- 
ber nothing: — It is that of a calm, quiet faced, rather 
tall, fair young man, walking on a Sabbath morning 
with a little boy's hand in his around the works where 
he was employed, to see that all was safe ere he went 
to worship in God's house, — reverently, I doubt not. 
That was all my father remembered. 

But do you not think of that grandfather's father 
and mother, and think "How did you look with your 

178 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

little boy, and how did you train him?" I expect they 
were a thoughtful pair, and if our family crest, a dove 
with an olive leaf flying across a dark sea and "Pa- 
tience" as the motto, had meaning to those of our race 
who first chose it — then the dove means Purity or 
Holiness — the olive leaf means Peace and Victory — 
and the motto, Patientia, means Patience or Persever- 
ance. Did they not hope — these first Dowies long ago 
in auld Scotia — that all their race would be pure mes- 
sengers, patiently bearing the Gospel of peace across 
the troubled sea of life to sinking hearts, and did they 
not hope that they would be victorious over all ill? 
I do not, and no one, knows, but I like to think it some- 
times; and what a glorious thing it will be for us to 
find in heaven some of them who can tell about it, 
and show how we fulfilled in this Australian land the 
thoughts God put in their hearts long ago. Better is 
the Olive of Peace than the Emblem of War. 

Remember me with love to all and be especially 
good to my dear, dear old mother. Kiss her for me, 
and tell her how sorry I am that she is not stronger. 
Assure her of my love and constant prayer for her; 
and tell her that I have been often tempted to think 
I would like to be rich, if it were only to make her 
more comfortable. I wish I had been more of a com- 
fort and help than I have been. She was always good 
to me, and I fear I was sometimes impatient and fret- 
ful — for which I know she has long ago forgiven me. 
During the last nine years from home my life has been 
very busy, but I have never forgotten her and my 
father for a single day in prayer and loving thought. 
Tell her so, and say, too, that I am glad my little boy 
has been folded in his grandmother's arms, and that 
she has seen his face and blessed the child. I hope 
to see her yet again on earth, but I feel sure by God's 
mercy I shall see her in heaven — not old, but young 
for ever — where no hearts ache, where no tears dim 
the eye, where the inhabitant is not sick, and where 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

sin and death cannot enter. Kiss her for me, my dar- 
ling, and tell her I love her more than ever. May the 
Lord sustain her, and when heart and flesh fail, be her 
strength and her portion forever. 

And now good-by, love; for a little time only, I 
hope. I feel as if we cannot do without each other 
for much longer. I pray God to comfort and strengthen 
you, my dearest love. And as for our little gift from 
God, just give him father's love in ever so many kisses 
and show him my portrait when you do it. Let us 
pray, and believe God answers. Let us watch and 
pray. And may our loving God fill us with His peace 
and love 



{Written in answer to a personal letter from the Secretary of the 
Ministerial Association, of date Nov. 28, 1877.) 

My Dear Sir: 

Yours of 7th with its enclosure duly reached me. 

As to the resolution of the Association I have 
nothing to say at present. 

But as to your letter, there are several observa- 
tions upon that extraordinary production which I now 
feel myself compelled to make: not that I deem any 
defense of my actions to be due to you in the slightest 
degree, but that you may see what your letter really 
amounts to, and to what extremely absurd results 
the principles set forth in it must inevitably lead you. 
And since perfect candor of expression is your evident 
motto, I will not waste words in useless apology for 
adopting a similar mode of writing, but shall deal at 
once with your letter in the plainest and most candid 
fashion. At the same time, I very deeply regret that 
such a task is forced upon me; but my longer silence 
might be misinterpreted to my damage, and, what I 
care infinitely more about, to the damage of the Lord's 
work. 

Your letter is meaningless, or pernicious nonsense 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

in some parts, utter folly in others, and quite presump- 
tituous in tone throughout. 

I begin by dealing with the last of these three as- 
sertions. 

It is presumptuous because you and I have never 
been on such intimate terms of private friendship as 
to warrant the adoption of your tone of writing; nor 
can you possibly have a knowledge of my private feel- 
ings, or thoughts, or ministerial and other life as could 
in the slightest degree fit you to take upon yourself 
the role of the candid friend. When I know that I 
never made a single important personal confidential 
communication to you in my life; when I cannot re- 
call a half an hour of private intercourse, or any con- 
versation of that length with you, except in the pres- 
ence of one or more other persons, for fully three years 
— a period which covers the whole of my ministry in 
Newtown ; when I remember the treacherous whisper- 
ings, concerning which I was only too well informed — 
of which you and others were guilty at the time I 
left Manly to come here, or rather when the church 
here were considering the desirability of calling me to 
be pastor; and when I reflect for how long a time I 
have ceased to respect your judgment or to regard 
your opinion upon most matters — for your inflated 
conceit in your general conduct most effectually re- 
pelled me — I cay, when I remember all this, and much 
more, then your impudence in attempting to play the 
part of the well informed, trusted and confidential 
friend does seem to me to be a piece of unjustifiable 
presumption. 

It is not to be wondered at, therefore, if it be 
scarcely possible for me to find anything like a wise 
or fair view of my conduct or capacity in your letter; 
and to call the miserable scarecrow sketch of myself 
a correct portrait is indeed "utter folly". But it is 
very much more than that, it is a miserable, spiteful 
estimate of my career — a career of which, whilst I have 

181 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

no reason to be ashamed, comparing it by human 
standard, I yet feel very much ashamed of when 
judged as in God's sight. Yet more, your letter is 
contrary to fact. 

There can be no facts within your knowledge 
enabling you to speak and write — for you do both — 
of my conduct in resigning the pastorate of this church 
as if it were the unavoidable result of some pressure 
of some concealed external or internal kind, for the 
very conclusive reason that there are no such facts 
as you insinuate. Your insinuation is veiled in cloudy 
verbiage in many places, and is almost expressed when 
you write of my being in a "present apparently pain- 
ful position, surrounded by difficulties," etc., and, when 
you demand to know whether I "have not in great 
measure" brought myself into that alleged position, 
you seem clearly to presuppose the fact that my posi- 
tion was brought about, or that I was compelled in 
some way to resign, by other means than my own 
voluntary act, or through some failure to fulfill my of- 
fice. 

Now such suggestions are, in every sense of the 
words, wholly false : for my position in this church 
was never stronger than when I intimated my inten- 
tion to resign, and that intimation was wholly unex- 
pected, was made at a time when various inherited 
difficulties and difficulty creators had been most com- 
pletely, or very largely overcome, and was, I venture 
to say, a source of real regret of nineteen-twentieth's of 
those under my ministry, of which I had many touch- 
ing proofs. Whatever such persons as you, who are 
almost wholly ignorant of me or my position, may 
imagine — and ignorance is the parent of credulity, and, 
notwithstanding what you may have heard from three 
or four miserable "dead flies" who have caused the 
church here to be very offensive for years, there is 
not an atom of foundation for such insinuations — and 
my hope for the Church in future days is very low 

182 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

unless these said "dead flies" are got out. And the 
spiteful character of these unfounded and offensive 
remarks is very apparent, when you inquire from me, 
with all the bumptiousness of a pedantic "Sir Oracle" 
whether it is not "your extraordinary self-confidence, 
always willing to give advice and never to take it" 
which has brought me to this position — my only re- 
mark upon which is, that I have no confidence in my- 
self whatever, and that I am only confident when con- 
sciously trusting in God, and I hope you are not judg- 
ing me in this matter by your own measure. Then, 
apparently unsatisfied with this flight of genius, you 
soar to prophetic heights, and from the giddy summit 
of your self-conceit, you behold my future misery, and 
warn me that I shall "bitterly rue it," if I "plunge into 
fresh schemes and fresh expenditure". And then you 
meekly descend to communicate to me the interesting 
results of your profound inquiries concerning that 
awful question, in your sight, of my "dispensing" with 
your sympathy and support — I never had it, by the 
way, and never missed it — for of course you were 
doubtless, in your opinion, one of the charmed of "right 
minded men with whom I have been publicly asso- 
ciated." 

Summarizing, therefore, your own sum total of 
gifts and graces, as well as mine, you find yourself in 
a position to announce with an air of final certainty 
all the depths and even the possibilities of our respect- 
ive ministerial powers — wondrous being! And link- 
ing me to yourself, with quite a touching humility in 
so profound a creature, assumed no doubt, to let me 
down a little more easily from my supposed over-am- 
bitious aspirations, you say that it is "only men of rare 
talents, and who to a remarkable degree command the 
popular ear", who can afford to stand alone ; and — oh 
marvelous condesension — you add these words: 
"neither you nor I can, I am sure, boast of such gifts 
as to make headway against the opinions of the men 

183 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

of piety, zeal, and learning about us". Amazing dis- 
covery ! Worthy of the days when the Pharisaic con- 
cluded that unlearned and impious fools like Jesus and 
His followers must fail because they were none of 
them — who were all properly submissive and learned — 
who would go with Him. How awful, then, must be 
our fate if these tremendous "men of piety", etc., 
should turn their formidable artillery against us. Does 
your timorous little soul tremble before even the 
thought of such a catastrophe? Well, if so, I must 
pray you to slip your imaginary cable, and sheer off, 
and leave me to my doom: for, even if it should 
happen that these awful, ecclesiasticial great guns 
should fire away their broadsides at poor me — surely 
now they could scarcely be so cruel — yet I shall very 
certainly dispense with their "sympathy" if I am to 
pay your price for it, and without fear incur their 
"antipathy" — which you prophesy will surely follow — 
since my mind is wholly resolved to assert my liberty 
by going out of the Congregational Union. 

And I can do all that the more easily that with 
very brief and unsatisfactory intervals, I have had to 
"dispense" with that "sympathy" throughout my 
whole connection with the said Union, and have, dur- 
ing that period, developed a very profound contempt 
for their antipathy, which did its poor best to keep me 
out of Newtown when the people were unanimously 
for me. That antipathy, also, did its poor best to damn 
me with a faint praise and hinder me with open sneers 
in most of my public efforts. That same antipathy 
did its poor best, for over four years, in keeping me 
out of all public position, so far as was in the power 
of the clique who managed the Union — and you were 
a specially active offender in that matter, for you are 
the Mercury of that ecclesiastical Olympus. That 
antipathy did its poor best in the efforts of a deceased 
leader, who like a modern Jove, tried to crush with the 
lightnings of his fierce anger and the thunderous 

184 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

rattle of his awe-inspiring money bags — but he failed 
ignominiously. That antipathy did its poor best in 
suppressing my solemn protest against an iniquitous 
appointment to the Chairmanship of the Union, the 
truth of which — and the document has been for a year 
in the hands of the Union Committee — has never once 
been disputed ; but in those days, alas, I was not wholly 
freed from the apparent enough delusion, as I now see 
it is, that truth was the first consideration with the 
Congregational Union and not Mammon or other cog- 
nate powers. That antipathy, to pass over to one of 
its last manifestations, did its poor best in the unmanly, 
unprovoked, and most anti-Christian attack of the edi- 
tor of the denominational "little candle" (you know I 
am not joking, for that is your approved title of it on its 
very front) at the Christian Convention in Sydney, 
when that faint luminary of Congregational darkness 
was promptly put under a bushel by the very dis- 
tinguished Christian minister who presided, and whose 
repeated expressions of loving sympathy with me, and 
of entire approval of my speech, more than compensate 
for any pain which that ponderous "little candle" hold- 
er's conduct had momentarily caused me. Yes, I now 
fear nothing which these "men of piety, zeal", etc., can 
do to me; and, if they are true servants of the Great 
Master, they will pause ere they enter the lists against 
any of His servants and see good reason to retrace 
their steps with shamed faces; but, if they are not, 
then it will be seen and known of all men what they 
really are in spirit — persecutors, and unfaithful will 
they be — no matter what their Mercury may call them, 
no matter how their "candle holder" may illumine their 
characters. 

From numerous ministers and members of leading 
position in every section of the Christian Church, and 
from large numbers of the people in the Congrega- 
tional churches generally, I have received a large and 
an increasing amount of warm sympathy, and by their 

185 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

kind appreciation of my services, I have been placed, 
almost since my entrance, a lone stranger into New 
South Wales, in positions where I have taken, and 
still take, a fair share of work in religious and philan- 
thropic affairs, and in public questions of great im- 
portance — for all which I give grateful thanks to God 
who permits me to labour in the Gospel ministry of 
His Son. But to the support of Congregational minis- 
ters in my work I owe next to nothing, to the funds 
of Congregational organizations I never was indebted 
one penny, and my work has been blessed in propor- 
tion to my efforts being apart from them in a spiritual 
sense. Indeed, I may fairly say, that instead of being 
"publicly associated" in labour with "Congregational- 
ism" (what is that "ism", I wonder?) my connection 
therewith has been largely a nominal one, as I now see, 
and my real association has been with men of earnest, 
catholic. Christian sentiment in every denomination — 
whose kind sympathy I hope to preserve and do highly 
value. 

Then as to my third assertion concerning the mean- 
ingless and also pernicious nonsense you write in your 
letter, about "the wrong" which you say I am about to 
inflict upon myself, upon my wife, and upon the 
church, by not fleeing for refuge to the only hope you 
can see for me, which is found in "the many brethren 
who are willing to help you if you will but only trust 
them"; and also the further farrago of nonsense which 
you have scribbled in support of this — why, to answer 
these would be to accomplish the feat of proving the 
existence of the non-existent. 

Utterly ignorant, as you cannot but be, of my in- 
tentions or resources, your impudence in building such 
painful charges upon the basis of your fancies, is only 
excelled by the audacity with which you transform 
your imaginations into facts — and looked at thus you 
are an interesting and curious psychological study. I 
have, in short, made such a study of you, in return 

186 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

for the candor you have shown, and I am sorry, sin- 
cerely sorry, the result is not very flattering to you. 

It is quite apparent to me that, all through your 
ministerial life, the folly of your Gawler escapade — 
when your were nearly frightened out of your wits, 
and frantically sought advice from Dan to Beer- 
sheba of Congregationalism in South Australia, — I say 
it appears to me, that has haunted you till this day. 
The ghost of that or some other affair, still manifestly 
exerts a very potent influence over your mental con- 
ceptions, and you are evidently accustomed to obey 
its mandates with much devotion — the first of which 
is "Look always first to the brethren!" And the 
second, it utters in mournful tones, under the very 
shadow of the ecclesiastical gallows tree — "Obey al- 
ways the brethren !" Such, night and day, and year 
by year, with sad cadence, and ghostly accompani- 
ments, is the cry which your ghost utters in your 
ears. 

And indeed, this seems to be rather a serious ghost 
for you, my poor, deluded brother, because this 
wretched Gawler and Burwood spectre or ghost, 
seems to interfere with your confidence in the direc- 
tion and promised helper of God, the Holy Ghost, in 
answer to the prayers of believers. This is beyond 
question, when you counsel me not to place reliance 
upon the fact that I "have prayed over the matter 
and that God has shown me the plain path of duty"; 
and further, inspired by this said ghost, you utter this 
sublime dictum for my guidance : "I say do not trust 
your own impression for answers to prayer." And 
then you go on by a puerile illustration, to assure me, 
with your usual modesty, that my "judgment" as ex- 
emplified by my "whole career" — how much do you 
know of that — is quite unsound, just as your ear is 
unmusical ; and, upon this most redoubtable piece of 
assumption, you arrive at the astounding conclusion, 
for my special guidance at this and all future times — 

187 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

viz : "No prayer will give you the right conclusion 
on which to take important steps in life." Conse- 
qently, it follows that being in this awfully helpless 
condition I "must recognize my need and trust those 
who can supply the want". And, in case I or anyone 
should ask, "Oh, wondrous being, do reveal to my ig- 
norance and wee where these glorious guides are to 
be found ?" The answer is with prophetic instinct 
provided by you in the very next words: "There are 
men, whose long, useful, and peaceful career in the 
churches (Congregational of course you mean) should 
encourage you to seek from them (wonderful !) the 
counsel they are willing to give". What a stupid 
creature I must have been to think my brother minis- 
ters were mortal creatures like myself ! 

Here is ghostly counsel and ghostly conclusions 
with a vengeance; but, my poor, haunted friend, be- 
fore I can believe that is the direction of the Holy 
Ghost, you will require to produce another Revelation 
as well attested as the Bible's — nay, it must be a Rev- 
elation of higher authority which shall expose the 
falsehoods of, and wholly supersede, the Bible as the 
rule of faith and practice ; for such principles of prayer 
and practice as you have laid down are not only not to 
be found there, but hundreds of passages prove such 
principles to be wholly opposed to it, and the whole 
teaching of Christ as well as the whole experience of 
the Church is exactly contrary to your directions. It 
is rather too much — I hope you will allow that — for 
me to set your miserable dicta before God's inspired 
Word. 

But further, permit me to say, that if you will only 
logically carry out your convictions you will either 
require to proclaim the discovery of infallibility in the 
persons of the "pious" etc. etc. "brethren" you have 
decided upon; or, will it not be easier and quite as 
logical, for you to find your infallibility where Papal- 
ism places it, in the Infallible Pope at Rome? 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Beware, my poor friend, and take great care that 
you "tell it not in Gath, lest the daughters of the Phili- 
stines rejoice": for Dr. Vaughan would hail you as 
a convert if this were known, and that harlot Church 
of Rome would rejoice in the fall of such a soul as the 
Secretary of the Congregational Union. Honestly 
have I feared, for some time past, that the spirit of 
Popery was at work in the Union in New South 
Wales; but little did I expect to hear the Secretary 
of that headless, soulless, because wholly mythical, 
body proclaim the Vatican Decree in essence as being 
practicable to the ekycktoi of that Union. There 
is no need for you to regret my secession from 
that strange way : for I am a deadly foe to all humanly 
concocted infallibilities in Papalism, Congregationalism 
or elsewhere; for they have cursed, and are now curs- 
ing, the Church and the world — defiling, weakening 
and making despicable the one, and letting the other 
go on unchecked in sin and perdition. 

I only wish I could destroy this creation of your 
Gawler or other ghosts : for I would certainly free you 
from an awful horror, a bogie, too, with which you 
try to frighten others. 

And now in closing, I beg leave to draw your atten- 
tion to the breach of confidence committed by the 
premature and unauthorized announcement in the 
"Independent", which, arises from the fact that my 
private letter to you, as the Secretary of a private As- 
sociation, is, by a gross violation of all good usage, 
therein publicly used. I thought that I was at least 
dealing with gentlemen, and I trust that such an 
amende will be made as will show that I was not 
wholly wrong in that conjecture. I reserve, however, 
now my right to publish this and other correspondence 
I have had with those whom you warned me are 
against me, should I deem it necessary. 

When the time comes for me to retire from New- 
town, I shall myself announce my withdrawal from 

189 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

the Union, and either then or later I shall probably 
state the reasons why, though I had hoped to have 
found that to be unnecessary; because my whole 
heart's desire is to work with all my powers, in the 
most direct and constant manner possible, for the sal- 
vation of the perishing thousands in this city for whom 
Christ died and for whom His Church is doing so little. 
And I shall only strike a blow at your Union if it 
stands between me and that work. I hope, for many 
reasons, that may not be required ; but, if it is, I shall 
do my best to make the blow a destructive one; for I 
shall regard the Union with as little reverence, in that 
case, as I do the Roman Curia, and count it only an- 
other tyranny and anti-Christian imposture which 
ought to be swept away without hesitation by every 
honest Christian man. 
I am, 

Very truly yours, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Addressed to the Editor of the "Sidney Morning Herald," and pub- 
lished by him in that paper, July 27, 1878, as a protest against a pro- 
posed address to the Earl of Beaconsfield.) 

Sir: 

As one of many I desire to raise an emphatic protest 
against the design of the promoters of the meeting 
convened by the Acting-Mayor for Monday next. 

At that meeting it is intended to adopt an address 
to the Earl of Beaconsfield, congratulating him upon 
the wisdom and success of his foreign policy. 

There are many reasons why no such meeting 
should be held, and why no such address should be 
adopted. The whole of the facts are not before us 
regarding the recent Congress at Berlin, and it will 
form an inconvenient and dangerous precedent, should 
an irresponsible public meeting in Sydney express it- 
self rashly upon any act of British foreign policy, and 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

presume to forward that expression as the deliberate 
judgment of the Colony of New South Wales, as seems 
to be the intention. Moreover, the act would not only 
be presumptuous, but I am convinced it would be en- 
tirely opposed to the views held by very large numbers 
of most thoughtful colonists. And I will venture to 
lay respectfully before the public my reasons for so 
thinking, with some proofs that these reasons rest upon 
a solid foundation of facts. 

My objections to this proposal are three. 

First — the Earl of Beaconsfield's personal and pol- 
itical antecedents do not justify such an expression of 
admiration. 

Second — the facts alleged to be the fruits of his 
labors are not facts but illusions, resting upon a mis- 
conception, or mispresentation, of recent events in 
Europe and the East. 

Third — instead of approval, the Earl of Beacons- 
field's policy merits our severest censure, since it has 
largely caused the recent horrible Russo-Turkish war, 
since it has sown the dragon's teeth of future inter- 
national strife by the Treaty of Berlin and the Turkish 
Convention, since it has seriously injured the constitu- 
tional rights of the British Parliament, and created a 
precedent full of danger to every province of the Brit- 
ish Empire. 

These are very grave charges, I am aware, and they 
are not lightly made. I shall endeavor to justify their 
accuracy and the necessity for making them. 

As to the first of my assertions, a really candid and 
careful investigation of Benjamin DTsraeli's political 
life will most certainly prove its soundness. 

From the day (June 3, 1832) when he deceived 
Joseph Hume and Daniel O'Connel into the writing 
of letters approving and recommending him to the 
electors as a Radical candidate for the representation 
of High Wycombe, until the last general election in 
1875, when "Beer and the Bible" was practically the 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

watchword which he gave as Tory leader, there 
streches an uninterrupted record of political charlat- 
anry, impudent imposture, and unscrupulous procedure, 
such as is quite unexampled in modern times. History 
has constructed for this man a pillory, although at 
present he stands rewarded with a trumpery Coronet 
and a lady's Garter. O'Connel's brand, placed there in 
1835, still stands, for those who have eyes to see, upon 
D'Israeli's brow — "His life is a living lie". And when 
the Irish orator's hand went to nail him to "The cross 
of the impenitent thief, whose name," he said, "I verily 
believe must have been DTsraeli", he expressed in 
terms, perhaps coarse, but not too strong, the detesta- 
tion which such a character and career inspires. The 
treachery with which he ever stung the hand that fed 
him, the persistency with which he repeated unfounded 
charges, the fulsome flattery with which he besmeared 
the English Tory squires, the skill with which he hood- 
winked the Bentincks, and all that genus, until he com- 
passed, by their aid, the downfall in his leader and 
benefactor, Sir Robert Peel, are they not all recorded 
in his speeches of that memorable time, preserved in 
that Parliamentary record which is D'Israeli's pillory? 

His subsequent abuse and misrepresentation of 
Earl Russell, Mr. Gladstone, and a host of noble men 
who have led the van in all the great measures of re- 
form and progress, is too well known to require more 
than this allusion, whilst the recent retirement from his 
Cabinet of high minded and able Tory statesmen like 
the Earls of Carnamon and Derby, with their public 
statements of his political untrustworthiness, show 
that he is still unchanged. 

The numberless instances in which, with most be- 
wildering audacity, he has stolen the policy of the 
Liberals, after denouncing it for years, and has then 
paraded it dressed up in "true blue" in quite an orig- 
inal style, declaring that the little dear was his own 
legitimate offspring, proves him to be a habitual and 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

incorrigible political thief — and though often con- 
victed and punished for his larcenies, he still remains 
an "impenitent thief," and will to the end, it is to be 
feared. And this is the man we are summoned to 
praise ! 

Let it be shown, if it can, by his admirers, that 
these facts are distorted or exaggerated, and that he 
is worthy of the tribute they propose the colony 
should give him. Historical whitewashing has been 
somewhat largely practiced of late, and there may 
be some who are getting the said whitewash ready 
for Monday evening. Let all such have a care, for 
they have an ugly task, — the white rubs off sooner 
or later, and the artist is apt to spoil his clothes, with 
no other reward than his stupid sycophancy for his 
fruitless toil. 

But I would now turn to my second objection 
to the address — viz., that the facts alleged as the 
fruits of his labors are not facts but illusions. 

I will state some of the more important grounds 
for this as concisely as possible, and if they are not 
expressed more fully it is not because I am unable 
but because neither my time, nor your space, nor the 
public patience are unlimited. 

1. The promoters of this address declare that Lord 
Beaconsfield's policy has "maintained the public law 
of Europe and treaty rights." But the opposite is the 
fact. There would have been really maintained, had 
Lord Beaconsfield more firmly and forcibly im- 
pressed it upon his friend, the Turk, that Great Britain 
would not interfere for his deliverance, if he persisted 
in setting at naught the decisions of the Conference 
of Constantinople held at the beginning of 1877. 
These decisions were part of the so-called "public 
law of Europe", which Turkey was allowed by 
Beaconsfield to reject. They were intended to force 
upon the Ottoman Porte essential reforms in its ad- 
ministration, and especially to provide protection for 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

its Christian subjects whom Turkish troops has op- 
pressed and massacred in Rosnia, Bulgaria, Armenia, 
and the Greek provinces with impunity, as they were 
fully warranted in doing by the Koran, the brutal 
Pachas, the pecuniary necessities of the Sultan's harem, 
and other "sublime" things. Russia stepped in to en- 
force the said "public law" by declaring war, and Great 
Britain did not then protest, nor has she since, that 
the Czar was without justification, seeing that the 
oppressed Bulgarians and others undoubtedly regarded 
him as the head of the Slavonic Race, upon whom the 
Turks had exercised their skill in fiendish activity. 

It matters not to the question that the Russians 
had an eye to their own aggrandizement in what they 
undertook — though Britain had set them many ex- 
amples — for the matter before us is one of "law", and, 
on the face of it, it is clear that not Beaconsfield but 
the Czar was the only one of the lawyers brave enough 
to serve the writ of "public law" decreed at Constan- 
tinople, acting therein as a kind of Inspector of Turk- 
ish Nuisances. Personally, I am against war in every 
form ; but since war is recognized by "the public law 
of Europe" as a legitimate thing, no one can say that, 
looked at from the legal aspect of the case, Deputy 
Inspector Nicholas did an illegal thing in pressing on 
to Constantinople at the head of the Allied Armies, or 
in doing his utmost to reap the fruits of victory by the 
Preliminary Treaty of San Stefano. And then as to 
the question of "Treaty Rights". Why, if the expres- 
sion has reference, as I suppose it must, to the Treaty 
of Paris, then Great Britain has so modified that 
Treaty, for example by the Black Sea concessions to 
Russia a few years ago, and Turkey had by her viola- 
tion of "public law" so forfeited the protection which 
that Treaty guaranteed her, that it is a screaming 
farce to talk of her Treaty Rights, and no other were 
endangered. To put it plainly, if an adulteress has 
still a wife's rights and a thief an honest man's rights, 

194 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

and a murderer a philanthropist's rights, then Turkey 
has also still intact her "Treaty Rights", though her 
crimes have been greater far. 

2. Then we are further to assure the Earl of 
Beaconsfield that he has won for us by his diplomacy, 
"the blessings of peace, whilst resolutely maintaining 
the interests and honor of the British Empire, in which 
the Australian Colonies as integral portions of the 
Empire are deeply interested". The mantle of Dis- 
raelitish style fell upon the writer of that magniloquent 
sentence, I am sure. And before dragging down his 
piece of empty rhetorical rubbish, I wish to draw at- 
tention to the fact that here we have a fair specimen of 
modern idolatrous worship — for therein there is no 
god but Disraeli. 

This is now known in England as "the worship 
of Jingoe." It seems to flourish here in some minds. 
In my simplicity, I had thanked the Almighty God and 
Father of all men for securing "the blessings of 
peace" sq far as we have them. But He did not seem 
to be in the thoughts of the Jingoes, and so they 
ascribed it all to Disraeli ; or, perhaps they are more 
ashamed to own God as the peace-maker, than they 
are to own this successful trickster. 

But let us examine these idolatrous ascriptions more 
closely. 

Is it not rather too soon to speak of the blessings of 
peace as being "secured"? Perhaps Lord Beacons- 
field will find that to sign a Treaty of Peace at Berlin 
is one thing, and to get everyone concerned to accept 
its provisions is quite another, as Duke Nicholas and 
General Ignatieff found it to be at San Stefano. Even 
already our meagre cablegram information proves that 
scarce anyone seems satisfied except Disraeli and his 
kinsman, the Turk. We have overwhelming proof that 
the whole of South-eastern Europe and Asia Minor are 
greatly agitated by the proposed territorial changes, 
and for this very good reason, among others, that the 

195 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

populations of these countries have never been con- 
sulted by the diplomatic persons who at Berlin coolly 
handed them over like sheep or cattle, to whatever 
power their august personages pleased. This kind of 
work does not last. 

With Italy dissatisfied, with Greece indignant at 
being cheated with fair words and empty performances, 
with Austria gloomy and troubled with the chaotic 
disorder of its "mixed multitude", with Russia humili- 
ated but full of pride and passionate desires for re- 
venge, and with all the difficulties and dangers which 
Britain has incurred by practical Turkish protectorate, 
does it not seem a farce, with such a mass of combust- 
ible elements, and such a political Lucifer sporting 
amongst them, to talk of peace as being "secured"? If 
I lock up a very mischievous boy in a gunpowder store 
with a plentiful supply of matches at his disposal, I 
would be a fool indeed to go about flourishing the key 
in my hand, and telling everyone of how "secure" 
things were in that store. I expect that there would 
be a very general stampede at once from that vicinity, 
by all who valued their lives. 

Europe is that store, Disraeli is that boy, and the 
key is the Treaty of Berlin. 

But we must yet further examine the assurances 
in question, and see how the Earl of Beaconsfield has 
maintained "the interests and honor of the British 
Empire in which the Australian Colonies as an integral 
portion of that Empire are deeply interested." Every 
one of these assurances, except the last, I will venture 
to dispute as entirely contrary to fact. 

"British interests" have never been threatened by 
Russia, and let those who assert that they have prove 
their assertion by facts, if they can. Neither the moral 
nor material interests of Great Britain would have been 
entirely broken up, and Russian influence become 
supreme upon the Bosphorus, for there is not a single 
inch of British territory to which that famous channel 

196 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

is the waterway. And as to the supposed danger to our 
possession of India should Turkish Armenia become 
a part of the Russian Empire, surely that wretched 
bogie is scared out of all sensible men's minds. But, 
if there be any who still suffer from that Disraelian 
ghost "Russian designs upon British India", let them 
read Colonel George Chesney's article in the Nine- 
teenth Century Review for April last, and they will 
see how absurd fears are, even from a military point 
of view. However, we shall still be told that British 
"honour" if not "interests" demanded the line of policy 
which Lord Beaconsfield has adopted. But what is 
"honour"? True honour is a sacred thing, and rightly 
understood, "the noble mind's distinguishing perfec- 
tion." 

But false honour is a seducer and a tyrant which 
disgraces and oppresses all its votaries, and such an 
honor is 

"a fine imaginary notion, 

"That draws in raw and inexperienced men 

"To real mischiefs, while they hunt a shadow." 

It is such "honour" as this which is the boast of 
prize fighters, gamblers, military bullies, and political 
adventurers. It is a gory Moloch, which ever demands 
human blood for its satisfaction. Accordingly, bloody 
battlefields are baptized "beds of honour", and the 
destruction, outrage, famine, vice, disease and death 
which follow are all happy nymphs attendant upon 
that virgin of "honour" — glorious war. Is it not time 
that this shameless imposture should cease? 

There is as much "honour" in any war as there is in 
a prize fight, a duel, a game of dice, or a cock fight, 
and a nation which goes to war for "honour's" sake 
can claim as much "honour" as the individual who 
engages in these dishonourable games. Lord Beacons- 
field has peculiar ideas upon this subject, and he has 
contrived to make them temporarily popular. 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

But now I proceed to deal with my third objection, 
that instead of approval, the Earl of Beaconsfield's 
policy merits our severest censure. 

1. "It has largely caused the recent Russo-Turkish 
War." 

Can any one doubt that war would have been 
averted if Great Britain had made a tithe of the naval 
and military display employed to coerce Russia, en- 
forcing Turkey to carry out righteous measures of in- 
ternal reform — reforms upon which all Europe was 
agreed? 

Facts prove that Lord Beaconsfield's selfish policy 
is more largely the cause of the present miseries of 
Turkey and the late horrors, than any other known 
influence. In 1875, serious insurrections against Turk- 
ish oppression arose in Bosnia and Herzegovnia. When 
Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Russia drew up 
the Berlin memorandum of May, 1876, pledging them- 
selves "to support their diplomatic action by the sanc- 
tion of an agreement with a view to such efficacious 
measures as might be demanded in the interests of gen- 
eral peace to check the evil and prevent its develop- 
ment", it was Britain alone which stood aloof, and 
broke up the concerted action of the Great Powers, 
which might have led to a peaceful issue. The im- 
mediate effect of the British rejection of these peace- 
ful proposals was the extension of the rebellion in the 
Turkish provinces, the declaration of war by Servia 
and Montenegro, and the infamous atrocities by the 
Turks in the then peaceful capital, Bulgaria. Then, 
once more, proposals of intervention were made by 
European powers, and rejected by Britain, until at 
last the famous capital conference at Constantinople, 
to which I have already referred, was held at the end 
of 1876. In the decisions of that Conference Great 
Britain was not only a consenting party, but one 
responsible for their execution to a larger degree than 
almost any of the other capital powers. And for a 

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THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

time it would seem as if Beaconsfield did intend to 
prevent Turkey from further violation of the "public 
law of Europe", and Lord Salisbury warned the 
Turks that "the very existence of the Ottoman Em- 
pire" was threatened, if these decisions were not car- 
ried out, and he added this significant expression, 
"the responsibility will rest solely with the Sultan 
and his advisers". But the Porte did reject them al- 
most with contempt, and encouraged by the protection 
which Disraeli had hitherto always extended to them, 
they went boldly into the war with Russia believing 
that even if they were beaten he would not see them 
greatly suffer. Turkey was deceived, or miscalculated. 
Beaconsfield dared not attempt to draw the sword on 
her behalf, for the grand efforts of Gladstone, Bright, 
Freeman, Richards and a host of our noblest men, had 
thoroughly aroused and instructed the Empire as to 
the iniquitous misrule of the foul and cruel Mahom- 
medan tyranny which has for centuries disgraced 
Europe. 

Yet, though Turkey had defied "the public law of 
Europe", had trodden beneath her feet in wholesale 
murder the common rights of mankind, and had 
broken her "treaty engagements", Beaconsfield re- 
fused to take any steps to act with the other powers 
and prevent war. The proposal which was made by 
Russia and backed by all the other powers, to send 
a united fleet up the Constantinople and demand the 
reforms in Turkey upon which all were agreed, was 
rejected by Beaconsfield; although doubtless, without 
firing a shot, such intervention would have accomp- 
lished its object and preserved the blessings of peace. 
No, it did not suit this Jewish statesman, who, in one 
of his novels, has dwelt pathetically upon the affinity 
of race and even religion between the Moslem and the 
Jew — a thought which dominates his policy toward 
Turkey, it would seem. 

He preferred the chances of war, and, with true 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Disraelitish cunning he calculated that he could deal 
more effectually with that Russia whom he has always 
hated, when it was enfeebled by terribly exhausting, 
even if successful, war. However that may be, when 
the presence of half a dozen British ironclads at the 
Golden Horn would have averted war, he would not 
so much as lift his finger. Before the bar of human 
justice and of Divine, I verily believe that Lord 
Beaconsfield stands today more guilty than any other 
statesman in Europe of the half a million lives which 
have been sacrificed in battle, by famine, and by ex- 
posure on the desolated land and ruined towns of 
Bulgaria and Roumelia — and of the awful miseries 
which still afflict the homeless, starving thousands of 
refugees. And shall we praise him then? As soon 
would I chant the praises of Juggernaut or Moloch. 

2. I have asserted further that Earl of Beacons- 
field's policy "has sown the dragon's teeth of future 
international strife by the Treaty of Berlin and the 
Turkish Convention." 

The details of neither document have had time to 
reach us, but already we hear an angry tide of dis- 
content, indignation and alarm. Passing over all the 
dangers which that Treaty has created in Europe, to 
which I have already briefly alluded, it must be evi- 
dent that the British occupation of Cyprus, the expo- 
sure by the Earl of Derby of the unscrupulous design 
upon Egypt meditated by Beaconsfield, and the awful 
responsibility which Britain undertakes by the semi- 
protectorate of Turkey in general, and Armenia in 
particular, constitute unavoidable dangers of a most 
serious nature. It brings Great Britain, for the first 
time in its history, face to face with Russia upon a 
frontier line in Asia at a period when both nations are 
greatly irritated, to say the least, and when there is at 
the head of affairs in England a man whose persistent 
hatred of Russia has been the most consistent thing in 
his crooked career. Such a position is altogether un- 

200 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

tenable for any length of time without war — a war 
which Disraeli has looked forward to for many years, 
and which he has done his utmost to provoke. The 
only hope of escape lies in the return of that great 
British Achilles — William Ewart Gladstone, and his 
party to power, and an entire reversal of present 
British foreign policy, by a policy of noble concilia- 
tion, which will have a stronger regard for the rights 
and happiness of peoples, than for the passions of the 
rulers. A general election might bring this very much 
nearer than many of us think — and that may not be 
far off. 

3. But the gravest, perhaps, of my charges against 
the Beaconsfield policy is the last, and that which more 
"deeply interests the Australian colonies as integral 
portions of the British Empire," than any of those with 
which I have been dealing. 

I have said that this policy has seriously injured 
the constitutional rights of the British Parliament 
and created a precedent full of danger to every prov- 
ince of the British Empire. 

In proof of these serious assertions, I will refer to 
one crowning act of audacity, which Lord Beacons- 
field perpetrated in a secret and deceitful manner, just 
after the Easter recess of the House of Commons — the 
removal of several thousands of native East Indian 
soldiers to the neighborhood of the late scene of war. 

The masterly speeches of Lord Selborne and others 
on May 20th in the House of Lords, and the still 
grander display of eloquence, fact and logic by the 
Liberal leaders in the House of Commons on the 20th 
and 23rd have made it clear to all but prejudiced 
minds that the rights of Parliament have been seri- 
ously infringed. If, as the Tories agree, it is quite need- 
less for the Government to ask the consent of the 
legislature to the spending of the people's money until 
after it has been spent, then it will be quite as reason- 
able to suppose that the taxation of the people does 

201 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

not need the prior consent of the House of Commons, 
until after the taxes have been decreed and collected 
by Royal authority — a thing which was once tried, 
which ended in civil war, and in the loss to a foolish 
King, not only of his throne and crown, but of his 
head. There can be no doubt that specific law has 
been violated by Beaconsfield, and a most dangerous 
precedent has been established. Nor has it been justi- 
fied, except by a mere assertion of the necessity for 
the action. This is in every age the tyrant's plea — 
"necessity." 

But this precedent is especially dangerous to the 
most sacred liberties of every province of the Empire. 

Let it be remembered that those native troops 
which have been sent into the Mediterranean from 
India were raised for the defense of British India and 
that they have been maintained by means of taxes 
levied upon the people of that territory. Now it is for 
a similar purpose that our Permanent Defense Forces 
have been raised, and they are maintained precisely in 
the same way. Then, if the British Cabinet can by a 
stroke of the pen remove the Indian Army to fight 
Great Britain's battles in Europe, what is to hinder 
them from overriding all local authorities here, and 
removing our Defense Force to fight in China or any 
where else? And, if the reply is, that such an attempt 
would not be tolerated here for a moment, I ask — 
and have not Indians equal rights with Australians? 

But a still more serious case may be presented as 
possible. 

If this absolute power continues to be exercised, 
what is to hinder Lord Beaconsfield, should these 
colonies displease his victorious party — for example 
by a peaceful and constitutional agitation for separa- 
tion and independence — I say, what is to hinder him 
from sending 10,000 Sepoys and several ironclads 
down from India, to bring us back again to obedience 
to British rule? Some may answer that the ill suc- 

202 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

cess of a similar attempt of an English Tory Govern- 
ment a century ago, with the then United Colonies of 
America, might prove a hindrance. But this is by no 
means certain : for the Tories are like the Bourbons, 
"They forget nothing and learn nothing;" and Lord 
Beaconsfield or Salisbury may prove as wicked as 
Lord North did, whilst Albert Edward, Prince of 
Wales, on the Throne, might prove as foolish as 
George III, who was undoubtedly the best man of the 
two, so far as we can yet see. But suppose all these 
dangers to be merely, and always, imaginary — are we, 
as an "integral part of the Empire," to allow such a 
claim to be asserted without challenge? 

Assuredly we would not, if the attempt to enforce 
it were made : for twenty-four hours would not pass 
ere the cry would ring throughout the whole continent 
of Australia — "Cut the cable : send back the Gover- 
nors : at all risks let us be free !" And Lord Beacons- 
field knows this. 

Yet this claim is enforced on India, and we raise 
no voice against it. We are foolishly, guiltily silent, 
and we may live to repent our silence, aye, our want 
of brotherhood. 

The fire which is burning my neighbor's house a 
few doors off concerns me : for, if I go not to his help 
the flames may destroy my dwelling. And what is 
India's case today may be our own ere long. But some 
may say that the cases are not alike, for India is not 
a self-governing dependence such as Australia is. I 
admit the fact, the cases are different; but the differ- 
ence aggravates Lord Beaeonsfield's offense. 

Because much enduring India is gagged, and her 
people cannot speak in free assemblies through their 
representatives, she is to be wronged with impunity; 
and because, on the other hand, Australia is free to 
speak, aye and if need be to act, she is not to be 
touched, her rights are not to be violated, for she has 
the power to make them inviolable. How does that 

203 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

view of the matter look? Not very favorable for the 
cowardly policy of Lord Beaconsfield. Is it for this 
that Britain rules India, for this that the poor toiling 
millions of India labor? 

Shall their poverty be made yet harder to bear, 
when they are told to pay taxes to create an army of 
their sons and brethren who shall shed their blood in 
foreign lands, in quarrels which are not theirs, but 
their conquerors? Verily, nay: for the question comes 
to be as Mr. Gladstone has eloquently expressed it in 
the "Nineteenth Century" for June: "Is it possible 
that this can work? Will India be content? Can 
India be content? Ought India to be content? 

In distant, and to her children uncongenial climes, 
in lands of usage, tongue, religion, wholly alien, the 
flower of her youth are to bleed and die for us, and 
she will have no part but to suffer and obey. This is 
injustice, gross and monstrous injustice ; and those who 
are parties to its preparation, must prepare for the 
results to which injustice leads." 

These are momentous and true words, which will 
fly far, and be heard of again. Some brewer of beer 
who has, as is fit, a place among the Disraelites in the 
House of Commons, named Hanbury, is about to 
distinguish himself by calling the attention of Parlia- 
ment to these words in censure of Mr. Gladstone. It 
is well : for the stupid act will make them yet more 
widely known, and the justification which the debate, 
if it comes on, will supply, will make their truth and 
generous brotherhood more apparent to the world. It 
will also preserve the brewer's name from an other- 
wise inevitable oblivion, and make it notorious, if not 
famous. 

No, India cannot bear her wrongs always in silence. 
We seem almost to hear her speaking to us by the 
voice of her brave defender, saying: 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

"And shall I reverence pride, and lust, and rapine? 

"No ! when oppression stains the robe of state, 

"And power's a whip of scorpions in the hands 

"Of heartless knaves, to lash the o'er burthened back 

"Of honest Industry, the loyal blood 

"Will turn to bitterest gall, and the o'er charged heart 

"Explode in execration." 

And woe to British power in India if another wide- 
spread mutiny arise! 

It will be far more dangerous than that of twenty 
years ago ; for the missionary has been abroad, and the 
schoolmaster, and the merchant, and the drill in- 
structor, and the vernacular press is now a power in 
the land. 

Perhaps the trumpery title of Empress of India, 
which Disraeli invented to please the Court, may then 
be won, which Queen Victoria may be the first to bear. 
Could that day ever come, history will record that it 
was the fatal policy of Benjamin Disraeli, first and 
only Earl of Beaconsfield, which alienated India, and 
deluged that fair land with the blood and tears of 
thousands, which must flow, I fear, if this policy is 
persisted in, and she to fight for her right to be free. 
And to sum up, I believe one thing, at least, to be 
certain, that history will indorse the severe but true 
characterization of Lord Beaconsfield which a dis- 
tinguished writer lately expressed : "He is a political 
juggler, to whom England is a gambling table, not a 
country, for the purposes of his gain." 

Every consideration of eternal Justice and Right- 
eousness calls upon every good citizen to do what he 
can to let the truth go forth, with no uncertain sound, 
in this great crisis through which our Empire and the 
world is passing, and, therefore, I will not take refuge 
in a nom de plume, but feeling that what I have written 
is for the public good, and in full accordance with my 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

duty as a Christian minister and citizen, I shall sign 
myself, 

Yours Very Respectfully, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Dated Nov. 2, 1878, in which work as an Independent Minister of 
the Cospel is reviewed.) 

My Dear Father: 

It is just six months since I last wrote you, and so 
quickly has the time passed that it scarcely seems to 
me to be as many weeks. But when I strive to recall 
in detail the many things which have happened, and 
the work in which I have been engaged it seems to be 
fully that time. That period, too, has been one of severe 
trial, but God has brought us through, and today we are 
stronger in body and more truly prosperous than ever 
before. Jeanie thinks she is better now than ever she 
was in her life before, and works away steadily and 
cheerfully in a way that would surprise you, whilst 
our dear little Gladdy grows stronger and more intel- 
ligent every day. 

And as for our work, I feel sure of one thing, that 
it has been far more largely blessed, in the highest 
aspects of it, during the past eight or nine months, 
than ever before in New South Wales. No minister 
in this city has around him a more loyal and devoted 
people than around me at the Masonic Hall, nearly 
three-fourths of whom are the fruits of my own min- 
istry under God, and the large number of men, from 
twenty to forty years old, especially is a striking and 
rare feature in our audiences. 

I often feel myself as one who is being led onward 
step by step in an utterly unknown way, and were 
it not for my confidence in my unerring Leader in 
this path of faith, and the strength which He gives, 
I could no more face the Present and the Future, than 
I could without His grace have come through the 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Past. There can be no doubt that He has concealed 
purposes — and it is His glory "to conceal a matter" as 
well as to reveal it — which I do not dream of. This 
I am sure of, I am where He would have me to be, 
so far as I can honestly judge, and the proofs of that 
conviction lie in the facts wrought out already in the 
work. 

At the outset, remember that, humanly speaking, 
I stood alone. When I stood forth to preach my first 
sermon in this city in the Theatre Royal, I knew not 
who would gather around me,nor what the result would 
be. But in a month I had in the evening considerably 
over one thousand to hear the Word of Life from my 
lips — and it was cheering indeed to see the rapt 
earnestness with which it was received — a Jew, the 
lessee of the Theatre, listening eagerly night after 
night in his private box is a sight not often seen. A 
choir gathered rapidly, and many of the young men 
from Newtown helped at the doors. But the cost was 
too much for me in money, and we made what I now 
think was a mistake — we removed out services to the 
Protestant Hall. At first we carried our congregations, 
it seemed, with us, and at our first service that Hall 
was filled. 

About the middle of April we began to think of 
more permanent work, and after many conferences I 
expressed my ideas as to the formation of a Free 
Christian Church, which were unanimously approved, 
and it was determined to go on with the work with 
the view of ultimately forming a church. It was to- 
wards the end of April that a Committee was formed, 
and the sum of 10 pounds a week guaranteed for all 
expenses. 

The month of May went on fairly prosperously but 
my Committee, after a good deal of consideration, with 
my concurrance, unanimously resolved that it would 
be better to transfer our work to the Masonic Hall, 
which was taken accordingly for six months and we 

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THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

hope to find a resting place there of a more permanent 
kind. Every one was hopeful, apparently ; but we little 
knew what a trial was in store. 

We entered into our new home, from whence I 
write this, on the day before my birthday and I 
preached on the next day for the first time in the 
Masonic Hall. We were waiting daily to hear that you 
had concluded the arrangement with the bank, and 
were keeping our expenditure well within our income, 
from the time that we had a regular income. 

But the Sunday was one of the stormiest and dark- 
est days of the past winter ; and for three or four more 
it was almost incessantly wet — during more than one 
of which there were no services in many churches 
at night. 

In the midst of these dark days, without a word of 
warning the guarantee totally failed me; at the very 
time when we needed it most. But I felt that I dared 
not go back, and relying upon the collection, I deter- 
mined, after receiving your telegram of June 10th with 
your most kind draft for 100 pounds advanced 
for our furniture, to go on and depend upon 
the Lord to revive the work, and enable me 
to reorganize my fainting and sorrowing little 
band; for they were sorry indeed; and once 
more, in the depth of an unusually dark and wet winter 
went right on. I paid at once over 90 pounds for 
the furnishings, and had paid about eight or ten pounds 
of it before your draft came — it cost me over 115 — and 
it is all paid, but a balance of about eight pounds. And 
then came the struggle to live, and yet go on with the 
work. I never passed through a darker time, and 
light came back very slowly, indeed I was tempted 
at last almost to give up the struggle. The wet Sun- 
days at the beginning had greatly checked our prog- 
ress, and the continuance of winter weather, joined 
to the disheartening effect upon those who knew of 
the failure of the Committee's guarantee, affected our 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

audiences, and our collections, too, as you may sup- 
pose, upon which I entirely depended. But I kept 
on, and during July earned over 12 pounds by lectur- 
ing, my entire income for June and July being under 
40 pounds — out of which, say for nine weeks, I 
had to live and pay rent of house, besides the rent of 
Hall, etc. — fully three pounds per week. However, I 
would not incur debt for my living expenses, nor did 
I one penny, but paid these, and struggled on till I 
could see an opportunity to rally my people. I called 
them together at the beginning of August, and asked 
them to see what they could do, saying at the same 
time that I should decide speedily as to going on or 
not. 

At first it seemed as if they could not do what was 
needed; but rapidly the work gathered strength, most 
mysterious providential aid was received by new con- 
versions, and at last on August 17th a strong Com- 
mittee was again formed, a capital business man as 
Secretary and an able young man as Treasurer, took 
the reins, and a well founded guarantee of a minimum 
sum of at least 10 pounds per week was given to me — 
I to pay for Hall, etc. — for at least six months. From 
that date — now about 11 weeks — the sum has been 
paid with unfailing regularity, and the Committee 
inform me that the prospects financially never were 
brighter than they are at present. We have no monied 
men among them; but we have, what is better, men 
who are kind, courteous and faithful to me and to 
each other, for they are, I believe, faithful to me and to 
Lord. We shall go on, with tried and true fellow 
helpers, to nobler victories than we have ever yet 
conceived — we shall go on in the Lord's strength 
alone, for "The battle is the Lord's." 

Did you ever study the life of Gideon and the way 
in which the Lord prepared him to lead, and selected 
300 men to follow him to glorious victory — 
leaving 22,000, who were "fearful and afraid", to go 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

home, and rejecting 9,700 braver men, that the glory 
might be given to the 300 whose battle cry was "the 
sword of the Lord and of Gideon"? Tis worth reading 
closely. 1 have been struck with it quite lately, and 
its applicability, comparing a small man with a great 
one, to my own circumstances. We have all been 
tried in many ways, and may yet be tried more se- 
verely, but we are really stronger now with the few 
hundred earnest working people around us in the 
Masonic Hall than we were with the great audiences 
in the Theatre Royal. I am stronger far than I was 
then, and steadily we advance on a surer line than we 
could with a "mixed multitude", many of whom might 
grumble and want me to lead them back into the 
Egypt of Denominationalism and the grinding tyranny 
of the Pharaohs of Mammon. 

With them I am done forever, come what may. I 
had rather learn tent making, like Paul, and preach 
and work as freely as he, than fill the Bishop of Syd- 
ney's seat, or the pastorate of the fattest, sleepiest, 
richest and most self-complacent church of the other 
sections of "the Laodiceans", whom I see thriving 
in their own eyes, though I believe in God's sight many 
of them are "wretched and miserable and poor and 
blind and naked." The vast majority of the 200,000 
souls are utterly untouched by the "lukewarm" church- 
es around, who seem to return indifference by taking 
care for the most part not to touch them, and very 
gingerly do they gather their robes together, close 
their eyes and their ears — their hearts being closed 
already — and "pass by" the dying, miserable thousands 
in all classes. 

Oh, it is pitiful to see how the name of the Lord 
Jesus has become a shame in many quarters through 
the poles-asunder inconsistency between the profes- 
sion and the practice of the members of Christian 
churches. I feel my own life to be far from the stand- 
ard; but I do not in the lives of thousands of profes- 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

sors see any endeavour made to fulfill the blessed 
will of the Lord who loved them and gave Himself 
for them in pain, in poverty, in toiling, in dying. 

But considerable as these pecuniary difficulties 
have been, they are really less trying than many others 
which are more difficult to express in words. 

The city is one proverbially unimpressible in things 
which are not of what I might call a spectacular order. 
The people are greatly taken by big "shows" of any 
kind, and objects interest them generally much more 
than subjects. 

People who are pursuing a round of sensuous 
pleasures with their leisure time, money and strength, 
are not drawn at first by the mere announcement of one 
minister more in the city, of whom they know com- 
paratively little, seeing that there are already so many 
in the city of whom they, alas, know too much in many 
cases. An old Greek saying was, "Against stupidity 
even the gods are powerless." It is this dullness and 
insensibility which is the most formidable barrier to 
the faithful preachers of the Gospel, and I have felt 
its disheartening unconcern, and its tendency is to 
stupefy and deaden one's mental and spiritual sen- 
sibility. 

... And do not think I am murmuring at these 
difficulties and oppositions, as if I were specially 
hardly dealt with, for I do not think any such thing. 
I only state facts as they stand. I believe the trials 
are good for me in every way ; and that they are among 
the "all things" which "work together for good for 
them that love God." 

The work exists, is a real power, despite all hin- 
drances, and surely that is a proof which appeals to 
reason and to faith alike. Therefore, I will look upon 
these very hindrances as proofs of my being in the 
right place. The Great Adversary does not waste 
ammunition upon those whom he thinks are too con- 
temptible for him to bother greatly about. I know 

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many ministers who are occupying positions so thor- 
oughly to the advantage of the Kingdom of Darkness 
that Satan would be a fool to disturb them: for they 
are just as Isaiah described them twenty-five centuries 
ago — they are "blind watchmen" — "ignorant, dumb 
dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving 
to slumber, yea, they are greedy dogs which can never 
have enough, they are shepherds that cannot under- 
stand, they all look to their own way, every one for 
his gain, from his quarter". 

Aye, and the last verse of that chapter (56) is true 
to the letter of many of them who are around us in 
this city. Do you think the "Roaring Lion" growls 
at them? 

Oh no, they are on friendly terms with him, and 
under their very noses he drives a thriving trade, he 
dovours the lambs and sheep with perfect impunity 
from among their very flocks. Paul found his ministry 
for Christ a very different kind of thing — and every 
faithful man since has found the same. I can say 
truly that fear has never influenced me largely at any 
time; and I will not allow it just now. Paul once 
wrote to his friends at Corinth: "But I will tarry 
at Ephesus until pentecost, for a great door and ef- 
fectual is opened unto me, and there are many ad- 
versaries." 

And I will, by God's gracious help, tarry here as 
long as the Lord wills it; and since I may like Paul 
measure my opportunity by my difficulty, as a high 
tower may be measured by its shadow, then I can 
truly say "a great door and effectual is opened unto 
me", for no one can doubt the fact that "there are 
many adversaries". 

And now, what other reasons are needed to prove 
my conviction well founded? No other than that given, 
so far as I am concerned; and yet God in love has 
given me many more. Instead of one key to open 
my lock of Difficulty, He has given me many. True, 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

the one just alluded to looks uncommonly intricate 
in its construction, and it needs Faith to grasp the key- 
called Trial, and fit it in, when one is weak and 
tempted. But 'tis a good key, indeed I find Trial to 
be a kind of Master Key — you know Trial is one of the 
Promises, and they are Divinely made keys. And I 
must not shrink when God shows me that there is 
no way through but a right use of Trials — so do not 
let any of us doubt His wisdom and love in permitting 
us to be severely tried — tried even in the fire. 

But He has given me, to carry on the simile, the 
keys of Blessing — many souls have been comforted, 
dying beds been lighted up with peace and joy, the 
wanderer has been restored, the young man awakened 
from the sleep of sin and death, the widow's tears 
dried, and the lonely have been brought in and are 
happy in the family of God. What a key that is ! 

Often when I have been nearest despair by reason 
of foolish doubts, there has come to me news of good 
effected of which I knew nothing before, by some 
words spoken, or deed done, which I had almost for- 
gotten. And then the door of my Difficulty has been 
flung wide open, and I have entered into the Grand 
Concert Hall of Heaven and by Faith's eye and ear, 
I have heard the song of rejoicing over a sinner re- 
stored, and have caught a Saviour's smile upon me of 
approval. Ah, that is indeed a splendid key. 

Then I have the key of Beautiful Prospect. 

That key opens to me a door into the future, and 
shows me a wide harvest field, and many earnest 
reapers who are reaping mighty sheaves of the golden 
grain, which we are sowing now only too often in 
tears, and I hear a great multitude rejoicing with me. 
And sure as God is, these eyes shall see it "in due 
season". Beautiful Prospect is another name for Faith 
and Hope. 

Then I have quite a bunch of keys called Love. 

There is first of all God's Eternal Love to me, and 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWTE 

when I am ready to give up the conflict — for my 
natural heart is just that of an arrant coward's — I use 
this key, and, behold, all is changed within, around, 
above me. In my heart there is Peace, the storm is 
at once a calm, and as I meditate on the unchanging 
Love I am at rest and strong again. On things around, 
'tis just as when the mists which sometimes enwrap 
all the beauties of our Harbour and its surroundings 
are lifted up in the mighty arms of the wind and 
carried away out to the ocean and dissolved. Then 
the sunlight streams over rocks and trees and blue 
dancing waters, and all the city on its many hills 
stands out as in a picture of Divine and imperishable 
beauty. So, around me I see all things in new lights, 
and even on the darkest scenes of sin and sorrow, and 
on my darkest paths, I see that the Sun of Love is 
shining. 

And to crown all, there is the Sun itself always 
shining by day, and when it is night I know "His 
banner over me is love" : for streaming over the whole 
sky there are ten thousand suns, which the daylight 
concealed, that are now shining on me in the Cross, 
and the White Way, and endless galaxies. Are not 
these emblems of the ever shining works of Divine 
Love in Redemption and in Restoration to God, whose 
inspired Word specially bids the weary one to look 
up and know that He made them by His hands, that 
He preserved them by His "strong power", and that 
"not one faileth?" 

And then there is another which I shall call 
Brotherly Love. 

God never gave a man kinder friends, I sometimes 
think, than He has given me in those around me in 
my work. They are not "golden" keys, perhaps, 
beautifully ornamented to men's eyes; but to mine, 
their hearts are like gold tried in the fire, bright as 
shining silver, and true as finest steel. 

They are good keys indeed. May the Lord increase 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

their number, and graciously use them to unlock many 
hearts now closed to the Redeemer! It is beyond tell- 
ing what they have been to me, and often they have 
cheered me by the sight of their pleasant faces — and 
especially the kind, faithful, manly look which shines 
with confidence and love in the faces of my young 
men — who count it an honour to bear a name which 
semi-jocularly is given to them of "Dowieites" — a 
name which I want to see hidden behind the One 
Great Name of Christian, which alone God's people 
should bear. Yes, this key of Brotherly Love is very 
pleasant in its effects, for it opens up the way for me 
to be useful in many places, and to many persons. 

And besides the keys above named there are yet 
others. 

There is a key of Generous Human Confidence, 
which I sometimes find very useful. I find that there 
are in all parts of the city, and among all classes, some 
at least who know little of me personally, who yet con- 
fide in me very generously — of which I have lately 
had various proofs. This is shown at general public 
meetings, where I am always well received, and I 
find this key enables me at once to get into sympathy 
with my audiences and therefore I can speak more ef- 
fectively. Indeed, this key opens sometimes for me the 
door of a very dark gate of Difficulty and that is 
Unpopularity, for as long as there are some in every 
class who confide in me, I do not fear yet through 
them to find a way to the hearts of many more who 
know nothing of me, or who are prejudiced by false 
rumors or mistaken impressions, such as are sure to 
gather around those whom it is to the interest of many 
to misrepresent. But this key of Generous Human 
Confidence will work wonders yet; and time is the 
great destroyer of those lies, which are born like blow 
flies to live but for a day, and to die forever. 

With such a splendid collection of keys of all sorts 
and sizes, do you not think that despite the adversaries 

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THE PEKSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

there is a "great door and effectual" opened for me in 
this Ephesus of Sydney, which it only needs patience, 
experience, faith, hope and love to rightly use? 

Success is certain, unless I faint and grow weary, 
which I do earnestly pray the Lord to hinder: And 
I long for the success of winning for the Lord thou- 
sands who are perishing in sin. This is the "one 
thing" I want to do, and to make all else subserve this 
great aim. The Lord has said, and I believe, that He 
will provide all that is needful. I often think there is 
true Christian philosophy in the words of a simple 
hymn which says: 

"At some time or other the Lord will provide: 
It may not be my time, 
It may not be thy time ; 
And yet in His own time 
The Lord will provide. 

Despond, then, no longer, the Lord will provide: 
And this be the token — 
No word He hath spoken 
Was ever yet broken : 
The Lord will provide. 

March on, then, right boldly, the sea shall divide: 
The pathway made glorious 
With shoutings victorious, 
We'll join in the chorus 
'The Lord will provide'." 

... If leaving the denomination should be a cause 
of offense, I can only say, is there not a cause? I am 
sure that is a step I am never likely to regret, and it 
is one I shall never retrace : for it was taken after more 
than a year's meditation and prayer, and has been 
confirmed daily since in every way. I am free to 
preach what I was prohibited from doing by my 

216 



THE PERSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

covenants, and I am freed from participation in the 
work of a body of men from whom, as a people, the 
Lord is withholding blessing, because of the spiritual 
uncleanness which is cherished in their midst. Let me 
give one proof, which appeals to common sense, and 
it will suffice to show the state of affairs : The annual 
meetings of the Union have just been held in Sydney, 
and in the report, or appended to it, there are statis- 
tics given which show that during the last five years 
only 535 persons have been added to the whole mem- 
bership of the churches, which number 43. That is 
107 annually for the whole denomination, or less than 
three persons annually added, on the average, to each 
church. Do you think that is not a cause for humilia- 
tion and shame? 

All the machinery of sabbath schools, churches, 
deacons, ministers, services, sermons, prayer meetings, 
etc. etc., and yet whilst thousands are dying and living 
in sin, less than three persons of net increase annually 
is the result. 

Now I do not wish to boast, but I will state a fact : 
I believe there are out of that 535 of net increase at 
least 100 who are the direct result of my own ministry 
at Manly, Newtown, and elsewhere, as I could prove, 
I believe, had I the rolls of the churches before me. 
Deducting deaths and removals (who of this last of 
course were added to the rolls of other churches) the 
net increase to the church at Newtown during my min- 
istry was about 70%, and about 20 to 30 at Manly, 
besides others. This, I say, was the Lord's doing; but 
I was the instrument, and it is a fact which still further 
shows what the Lord thinks of the churches. "By 
their fruits. ye shall know them." I could say more 
of what these fruits are, but I forbear just now, as it 
would lead me away from the point I used the above 
facts to illustrate. Let me add here another fact which 
I think should be stated, namely, that if the Lord bless 
my ministry at the same rate as He has since last 

217 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

February then my first year's work in Sydney will be 
more blessed than were the previous four and a half 
years, so far as man can judge. Surely this alone 
ought to prevent your making my leaving the denomi- 
nation a cause of offense, else you may be otherwise 
fighting against the Lord. . . . 

The work is His. He knows I do fully consecrate 
myself to His service. 

He knows I did not incur this heavy financial 
burden by my own wilful extravagance, and that much, 
if not all of it, is a fair charge against the work. 

He will not suffer me to be put to shame; nor do 
I feel He desires the matter longer now to rest upon 
my heart and cripple my energies. This is His matter, 
and I leave Him to deal with you, my dear father, con- 
vinced that He will guide you, however it may be, or 
will permit what happens. But it must be arranged 
now. These delays are great hindrances to me, for I 
need not tell you that the incessant toil of brain and 
heart in my work are quite as much as I can well bear, 
without the added burden of this confused money 
matter. 

For over two and three-quarter years I have toiled 
on without a pause, and thank God I am in fairly good 
health. But I cannot tamper with myself, just now 
especially. Occasionally, when worried, I suffer from 
a peculiar and painful sickness, which Dr. Neild tells 
me is cerebro-spinal, and caused by an undue exite- 
ment of the brain, and I vomit a pure and sometimes 
frothy water at such times, with all the feelings of 
seasickness. I do not get over it for an hour or two 
at least. But I never have it with mere work to any 
extent. It is the product of anxiety. I want to stop 
it : for sometimes it makes me feel a little apprehensive 
of worse. And for this and my dear ones' sake, and 
the work's sake, I am dtermined to do what I can to 
get this money matter into manageable shape. 

Therefore, I earnestly press you kindly to write me, 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

a candid, clear letter, telling me definitely what you 
think, and will or will not do. I hope you will not 
think me rude, if I urge you to write within two or 
three days of receiving this. You will confer a real 
favor on us both, whatever your determination is, if 
you will kindly do this. 

Now let me again thank you for your most kind 
deeds towards us and please tell our mother that 
though I seem by some misdeeds to have been placed 
in her black books for awhile, that I hope she will rest 
assured I never can forget her many acts of goodness, 
and that I have not a single thought but what is re- 
spectful and kind in my mind concerning her. 

The fact is, I sometimes think she covets my wife 
and baby, and is hard towards me for keeping them 
here; and with her love for those I love, how can I 
quarrel? 

She really must forgive me and restore me to her 
love again, and then perhaps, I shall tell her a secret 
I am sure she would like to know. 

And now I must close. Jeanie sends her sweetest 
love to you all and we both desire our loving remem- 
brances to our other father and mother, and to every 
member of the family tribe, whom may God bless. 
I am, 

Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Replies to a minister "who writes protesting against the circulation of 
tracts in his parish. — May 22, 1879.) 

Dear Sir: 

In reply to your rude note of yesterday, I have to 
say — 

1. I do not recognize your right to request any in- 
formation from me concerning any of my actions, or 
as to what instructions I give to those who are kind 
enough to cooperate with me in Christian service. 

219 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

2. At the same time, I may say that your exist- 
ence, much less your Sabbath School, has never been 
mentioned by me for I should say, over a year, and 
that, whilst I leave my people entirely to their own 
discretion as to where and to whom they distribute 
my weekly tract, I gave them no instructions to dis- 
tribute them in P — and was entirely ignorant that 
they were distributed there until I received your note. 

3. Had I any respect for your judgment of any- 
thing I might say, or do, or write, I would feel that 
your assertion that my tract of last Sabbath "was 
calculated very seriously to unsettle the minds of the 
young and injure their moral tone", to be a statement 
demanding instant explanation ; but, as I consider 
your judgment to be as feeble and incapable as your 
ministry, I do not reckon it to be of the slightest value, 
and it would be foolish to be angry or vexed about it, 
much less to be "rilled with indignation", as you say 
you were with my "obnoxious paper". 

4. It may interest you to know that no fewer than 
14,000 of these very "obnoxious papers" have been cir- 
culated, and that the liquor dealers and modern Phar- 
isees generally agree with you in your opinion, but that 
there are many thousands of persons who hold a dif- 
ferent opinion and have actually said they did good, 
which is of course quite a mistake in your profound 
judgment. Also that 100,000 similar tracts written 
by me have recently been circulated in Sydney. 

5. I wish I knew who distributed these "obnoxious 
tracts" among your flock, I would certainly commend 
his choice of a field, and will certainly do nothing to 
hinder "perpetuating so gross an impertinence", not- 
withstanding your awful (ridiculously so) threat to 
"take very vigorous steps to put a stop to it". 

With profound pity for you, I am, 
Truly yours, 

John Alexander Dowie. 

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THE PEKSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 
{Written to his father, Sept. 26, 1879.) 

. . There is no true "honour" but that which "cometh 
from above", nor any "nobility" but the aristocracy 
of grace. How few men seem really to believe this, 
and whilst they profess to despise mere worldly 
applause who name Christ's name and say they glory 
in the Cross and its attendant shame, yet even of these 
there are few who are not seekers of human honours 
and worldly applause. 

I want my boy to obtain "a good degree" in heaven, 
and if he does that I care not if he never gets a degree 
of any kind of honour on earth. 

Though I am poor, I never more cordially despised 
all who make gods of riches, and not for all the gold 
of Australia and all it could purchase, would I bow 
down and worship the golden calf which is the leading 
Divinity of the day. Empty honours and soulless gold 
go hand in hand with every form of hypocrisy and 
uncleanness to demoralize our fair Australian land, 
and every day supplies abundant proof. 

"Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, 
Where wealth accumulates but men decay." 

And Sydney, sometimes, seems to me to be literally 
"rotting" as to its people, for in body and in mind the 
decay, through iniquity and vanity of every kind of 
the people is evident to all who have eyes to see and 
ears to hear. I had rather my boy would die this day 
than live to be the corrupt beast that thousands of 
men are in this city, and only the hope that he will be 
a blessing in his time could make me wish him to 
live at all. If I thought he would be a "wretch con- 
centered all in self" in days to come, my misery would 
be greater than I could bear and live. But I pray 
and toil on in the hope and earnest desire that I shall 
in him give to the Lord and for His service a man who 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

shall "destroy the works of the devil" wherever he 
finds them, set free the captives, bind up the broken 
hearts and homes around him, and extend the King- 
dom of Righteousness and Joy and Peace on the earth, 
and then go to be forever with the Lord. 

. . You will see that page five of this letter 
bears date September 26, or more than a month from 
its beginning. Interruptions, cares, toils, difficulties, 
dangers, temptations, weariness, sadnesses, victories, 
conflicts, watchings, studies, deaths, births, burials, 
baptisms, marriages, writing, speaking, and employ- 
ments of all kinds have intervened within that month 
enough, if written, to fill a volume. I know you would 
like to know and I to tell, more than time and pen and 
ink will enable me to express. How gladly would I 
spend an hour with you every day if you were near 
and tell you of the way the Lord has led me, of how 
good and merciful He has been, how He has sustained 
me when ready to faint and delivered me from despairs 
and doubts, doing great things for me "whereof we 
are glad." He has given me victory over devils in- 
visible, and very visible too; and "in perils amongst 
false brethren" He has brought me through. This day 
I stand amid many dangers, but my feet are on the 
Rock, and my head is above the waters, nor can I dare 
to despair: for the Lord will bring me through. 
"What shall we say then to these things? If GOD 
be for us, WHO can be against us?" He that spared 
not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how 
shall He not also with Him FREELY GIVE US ALL 
THINGS?" With such assurances, to doubt is to dis- 
honour God, and with such provision as ALL 
THINGS needful for life and work I am ashamed to 
reflect upon my weariness and discouragement. Who 
can be against me, since God is for me? 

What is the chafl, when the breath of God's Spirit 
can in a moment drive it away? 

There is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that 

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my way would have been a thousand fold brighter and 
more successful had I feared none and nothing but had 
trusted constantly and fully in the Lord. So that 
though I have to record triumphs, yet it is my disgrace 
that, with such promises and such unemployed powers, 
I should have done so little, where there was so much 
to be done. 

You would see from the tracts which I have sent 
to you from week to week that I have preached every 
Lord's Day in the Victoria Theatre, Pitt Street, since 
the second Sunday in this year. Our audiences in the 
morning have been small from many evident causes ; 
but I am sure that in the evening I have had the 
largest regular congregation of men to be found in 
any building for Christian worship in this city, not 
excepting Pitt Street Congregational Church and its 
"found-wanting" minister. He has not dared to at- 
tempt a word of reply to my lectures on "The Drama, 
the Press and the Pulpit," and to other severe critic- 
isms of his foolish speaking on the Roman Catholic 
and Educational questions. The press and he form 
"a mutual admiration society," and flatter each other 
in fine style; but the people are beginning to get free 
from being press-ridden as well as priest-ridden, from 
the tyranny of the "scribe" as well as the "Pharisees." 
I often launch out against our corrupt press, but 
though there are reporters there every evening, they 
dare not print what I say nor dare they attack it; for 
like other scribes long ago, they are saying, "we fear 
the people: for all hold John as a prophet." 

I dare say you will laugh, as I do, whilst I write, 
and doubtless the quotation does not exactly fit, though 
it is not without force, since friends are pretty well 
agreed that the people generally have a general respect 
for me, of which I have many evidences — not the least 
being that thousands of them hear me gladly, and that 
for months past I have been asked to become a can- 
didate for their representation in Sydney at the next 

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general election, a fact which seems to be widely 
known, and which I am sure very largely accounts for 
the comparative silence of the press against me just 
now. But enough about the press, which is one of my 
abominations — as at present conducted: for its deity 
is Mammon. 

Our audiences have often filled the theatre to its 
utmost capacity with even the standing room occupied, 
and I think that for the last thirty Sundays our aver- 
age has been fully 1000. We have written 20 tracts 
and printed and distributed 200,750 copies — thousands 
of which have been sent to all parts of the Colony, 
to other Colonies of Australia and to many lands. 

The results of this preaching God alone knows and 
only eternity will disclose, but we have been privileged 
constantly to see results to some little extent, and I 
do not know of a single fruitless service in the theatre, 
or a tract from which some good has not come. Were 
I to go into details it would be too much for my time 
and perhaps your patience. Drunkards reclaimed, 
infidels converted, sensualists purified, homes made 
happy, and sinners in various conditions reconciled to 
God in Christ. 

We have also fought a good fight against the foes 
of the Lord who rule in this city and land — especially 
against the Liquorocracy and Snobocracy of Sydney 
who are such a curse to the people generally. In poli- 
tical and social life these are serious hindrances to real 
progress in spiritual life. They who despise the Lord 
are the honoured of the land, and false and foul and 
devilish principles are the laws of their lives. There 
are few who do not worship the golden calf, and there 
can be no more debasing idolatry — none more cruel 
or heartless. Vice is under high patronage, and money 
covers a multitude of sins. There are hundreds of 
dens of iniquity in this city where awful deeds are 
done, such as lands sunk in barbarism and ignorance 
could not exceed in horror, brutality and shame. Dis- 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OE JOHN ALEXANDEB DOWIE 

eases of the foulest kind are literally corrupting the 
bodies and cursing unborn generations with a heritage 
of pain, crime and misery awful to contemplate. But 
to all this the Church of Christ seems deaf and blind, 
and most certainly it is for the most part dumb. I see 
clearly that unless I can carry my principles into 
practical effect in our legislation, I shall only be beat- 
ing the air for the most part, as so many are doing, and 
I believe that my ministry in this city must carry me 
into the legislature ere I can fulfill it. 

There are many hundreds who desire it, and they 
say there are thousands who will hail my candidature 
for East or West Sydney with delight, and send me 
into the House with a large majority. I do not know 
if this be so to the extent my friends imagine. I know 
the enemy is numerous and strong, also. But at the 
same time necessity imposes upon me the duty, as 
from the Lord, of my offering myself for this work, 
because I do not see who is likely to do it if I decline. 

Of course, my preaching and church work will go 
on. I do not see why it should cease. Paul could be 
a tent maker and an apostle, I can surely be a law 
maker and a minister. I do not covet it for position, 
it can give me none higher than I have ; but since I 
am determined to do all the good I can while I live, I 
do desire now to be in the position to do it in the place 
where it will be most far reaching and effective in its 
influence. It seems to me that a reform of our social 
life is impossible without a reform in the laws which 
now license vice and promote crime. 

Politicians are not in earnest in their professions, 
and a new class of men must come to the front in 
Australia if good work is to be done. We are now on 
the eve of great changes. Old political parties are 
dying out, and a few years more must see the end of 
political tricksters, to whom legislation has been a form 
of gambling for the most part. Our care must be to 
take advantage of the present position to do our part 

8 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

to promote righteousness in our Government and laws, 
for triumphant iniquity everywhere opposes the spread 
of the Gospel and sows future harvests of awful sin 
and sorrow. Our young men are decaying fast, and 
a kind of dull despair of all change for the better is 
seizing upon many who see things as they are, whilst 
the great majority walk about as in an opium eater's 
dream, so far as acute perception of present dangers is 
concerned. Nothing but God's own Spirit can revive 
them. I look for a revival in politics, family life, 
social intercourse, business pursuits, etc., where God's 
truth shall purify and bless the people so that they toil 
not in vain. This revival will not proceed from the 
churches as they are now constituted. They will need 
to be purged ere they can bless others. . . . 

The work is the Lord's and wondrous in my eyes. 
But I know it might be better done. Indeed, were we 
free from money care, I am sure it would be. Would 
that the Lord's time were come to favor us in that 
way ! It would take long to tell you all about these 
matters, and only worry you needlessly ; for I am sure 
if you were rich in earthly treasures you would be 
forward to aid us. I feel sure of that, and I therefore 
do not care to bother you about these matters. 

Some day, I am certain, the Lord will remove this 
trial and meanwhile I go on, not doubting His promise. 
I would rather be poor and in need, than rich and 
heartless. 

Whatever will some Christians say when they see 
the Lord and give an account of their meanness to- 
wards His work? They spend thousands on houses, 
lands and luxuries, and grudge shillings to extend the 
Kingdom of Him to whom they owe all. If I were 
engaged in establishing a business, I might get a 
thousand pounds to help me, far more readily than I 
would now get a thousand pence to save immortal 
souls from death and ruin. 

But do not let us forget that the Christian Church 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

never owed its origin to the rich on earth; but to the 
poor, even to Him "who for our sakes became poor," 
and the Apostolic Missionary Society had probably no 
balance at its credit anywhere on earth — and yet what 
Society since, has done such work for the Lord? "God 
hath chosen the weak things of the earth." 

Among those present at our services there are 
frequently several ministers — indeed, there are always 
one or more present. They are, of course, principally 
ministers from other Colonies or from another country. 
My sermons are, I know, constantly discussed and are 
evidently not without interest to the sermon-makers 
who visit the city. In my afternoon addresses, I have 
seen city ministers of various denominations present. 
I tell you these things that you may know that my 
work is an object of at least curiosity to the churches, 
and, I am afraid, of distrust to many who dislike its 
nonsectarian character, and, what is more felt, find 
that there are sheep from all their folds who are get- 
ting too much attached to us for their liking. 

Of course, humanly speaking, the task has always 
been too great for me, and I gladly acknowledge that 
only God's own power could have sustained me and 
made me thus useful to many ; and to God, there- 
fore, I very sincerely give the glory. But it is a satis- 
faction full of cheer that should the work cease tomor- 
row, it will not be that my work has been unsuccessful 
in every sense as a preacher, but because it has not 
been financially supported as it ought to have been. 
Yet that reproach would fall upon others, not on me. 
My hope is, though, that it is being wiped away, and 
that God will carry the work through, and not let such 
reproach fall upon any. Now, even one year and eight 
months have proved my part of it, and I look back and 
say gratefully that it has covered the ablest and most 
fruitful period of my ministry. God has "sealed" it in 
an unmistakable way ; and if we can only overcome 
present difficulties, there lies before us a glorious future, 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

if spared to labour in this city. Yet, I am not anxious 
about the matter, assured that it is God's own hand 
that leadeth me. There must always be work for me 
so long as the world is before me for my parish, and 
a field for labour whenever there is a man who knows 
not the Lord. I want to go on here, if it be God's will, 
and I think it is; but most of all, I want to do right 
and to go or stay as the Lord may decide. "A good 
soldier" must be ready to fight any enemy, at any time, 
and anywhere. I want to be such a soldier. There- 
fore, 'tis for me to obey, and for my Leader to direct. 
I bless God I have come to that. I am sure it is right. 
I shall work as if I were to stay all my life in Sydney ; 
but I shall hold myself ready at any time to go to Lon- 
don or anywhere. To do that "will" is my increasing 
delight, and that I only care that I bear to those around 
may do it in every relation that I bear to those around 
me, and to those whom God has given. And my 
keenest sorrow is to err from the way that "will" so 
lovingly appoints. 

But I daresay you will be wanting to know about 
our great International Exhibition. There is no doubt 
it is a grand display of manufactures from Europe, 
America and even Asia (for Japan and the Straits' 
Settlement and Ceylon are well represented.) There 
is a good display, too, from the other Colonies; but I 
am sorry to say that South Australia is about the 
poorest and shabbiest court in the building. I am sure 
you could have done better had you tried. New Zea- 
land appears well and so does Victoria. But in my 
opinion, Queensland has about the most interesting 
display of its natural products, arranged with great 
taste and skill, of any. 

The building is very finely decorated within and 
occupies the finest position in Sydney. The view from 
the towers is indescribably beautiful, even to us who 
have it before us so constantly, in part; for it is most 
comprehensive — the city, the suburbs on every side, 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

the harbor, the hills, etc., around make up a living pic- 
ture of great grandeur. 

In front of the great building — The Garden Palace 
is its official name — there is a great pyramid, colored 
like gold, showing that no less than 274,000,000 pounds 
worth have been raised since the discovery of gold in 
Australia. 

But that is only enough at the most to pay for Eng- 
land's drink bill for two years, and at the rate we are 
now drinking that sum is drunk in about ten or twelve 
years in Australia. Our portion of the gold raised is 
valued at about 35,000,000 pounds — but we drink that 
sum in seven years. The pyramid is very suggestive 
looked at thus ; and I fear it is but too poorly regarded. 

It is very late and I am very tired. You are all ever 
in our prayers and in our hearts. We meet you every 
night at our Father's blessed mercy seat. We desire 
you to accept our warmest love, and our keen regret 
we cannot better manifest it. I would like to have you 
all here, had I as much room in my house as you oc- 
cupy in my heart, I could entertain you grandly, but 
I cannot. Remember us with all affection, for we love 
you all. I am sorry there is a cloud anywhere; but I 
shall do nothing to increase it. Life is too short for 
needless strife. I need all my strength for the Lord's 
battles. I do trust this will find you well, dear father 
and mother. May the Lord bless you. I bless you in 
my heart for all your goodness to me, and I pray the 
Lord to give you every needed grace, and everlasting 
love and joy and peace. 

Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



.... God has been very gracious to me in the 
midst of many conflicts and trials ; for He has sustained 
me and my dear ones in life and peace; He has re- 
warded my "little faith" with great blessings, such as 



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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

make men to wonder and ponder; He has defeated my 
foes and disappointed their evil desires and predic- 
tions ; He has encouraged the drooping hearts of some 
whose faith had well nigh failed; He has rilled with 
alarm and fear the souls of evil men and evil spirits, 
who would fain have destroyed me long ago ; He has 
opened up before me such far reaching harvest fields 
of labour, and filled me with such desires, and sup- 
plied me with such powers to do good, that I am some- 
times lost in wonder, love and praise, as I see all His 
mercies, which form so glorious a crown to His good- 
ness. How can I praise Him, — my tongue cannot 
find words to express my imperfect conceptions of His 
great grace to me in all my past, in all my present, and 
in all I hope, by His grace, to be and do ! 

Sometimes my inexpressible thoughts of God's 
goodness and care for one so unworthy as I am fill me 
with awe, and a deep sense of responsibility, lest I 
should prove unable or unstable, and so bring reproach 
upon the glorious name I bear as the redeemed and 
regenerated object of Jesus' love and power. 

For I am utterly weak in myself — neither body, 
nor mind, nor spirit are strong enough to bear or do 
His will, unless He strengthened me at every point, 
in every moment of my life. I lean, then, and I desire 
now and ever to do so, upon Him "Who not in vain 
experienced every human pain," and there I find it 
true that His strength is made perfect in my weakness, 
and His grace is sufficient for me. 

The future is solemn, the present is full of perils, 
and of golden opportunities too; but I need prayer 
from praying hearts on earth who love me well — and 
who can tell how much I owe, under God, to the faith- 
ful prayers of humanly obscure but divinely powerful 
souls, who have unceasingly prayed for me since I 
came into this city, alone in a human sense, to do 
battle for the Lord? 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

(Written to his father and mother, in March, 1879, Sidney, N. S. 
Wales.) 

. . . . How the world turns at the very words 
"He's rich !" But it need not try its blandishments — 
rich or poor, I am against all that is wrong in the 
world. I will still be the foe of its vices, the friend of 
all whom it oppresses. I value my probable power in 
a money sense most of all for the good it will now 
enable me to do, and the evils I may now resist, check, 
and so far as I can, destroy. I look forward to my 
church, my house, my control of a newspaper, my 
seat in the Legislature, my increased and strengthened 
influence upon the public mind, as so many possible 
talents to be employed for my Lord. I hear Him say 
— "Occupy till I come" — and in His name I shall make 
these means for extending His dominion amongst men 
and seizing, so far as I can, upon the fair provinces 
which Satan now rules over in social, ecclesiastical, 
and political affairs. I want to "occupy" these pro- 
vinces with permanent garrisons — "armies of occupa- 
tion" in fact — for the Lord Jesus Christ, and glad will 
I be, if life is spared, to hand over my sword to my 
son, and noble men yet to arise, that they may carry 
on yet more fully what I have begun. But who can 
tell what may happen? Life is very uncertain. To- 
morrow's sun may never shine on earth for me. I may 
never see the desire of my heart. There is often but 
a step betwixt one and death. 

This was the case last Wednesday night. I fell, 
when crossing the railway line alone on a dark night, 
about five miles from town, as I was running to the 
station in time for an approaching train, the rumble 
of which I could hear in the distance. I came down 
with a terrific thud upon my face right on the rail, 
over which the coming train must pass, and for a few 
seconds lost consciousness, or nearly so ; but remem- 
bering my peril, I managed to roll off in some way, 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

and got to my feet. In less than a minute or so the 
train dashed up to the station, to which I was close, 
and just reached as the train did. Then I found that 
I was bleeding profusely from a rather deep cut on 
my left eyebrow. I bound up my head with my 
handkerchief, jumped into the train, and when I got 
to Sydney drove home in a cab, feeling very faint. 
But, by God's mercy, I got over it quickly, and the 
wound is now nearly quite healed up. 

Was this not a providential escape? I was quite 
alone, the night was very dark, it was past ten o'clock, 
I had been conducting a marriage near P — and after- 
wards spent a few hours in the house of Mr. S — , one 
of my old Newtown deacons, about a mile and a 
half from the station. Had I remained unconscious 
for two minutes, I would have been without doubt 
cut to pieces, for no eye of man saw me fall, so far as 
I am aware. But God saw me, and He in His mercy 
rescued me from so sudden and terrible a form of 
death. 

I have a good hope, though, that to die for me is 
gain; yet it may be for the sake of others, and my 
Lord's work, best for me to live awhile yet on earth. 
Indeed it must be, since He delivered me; for I am 
sure He did. This nearness to death has made me 
realize more deeply how serious it is to live. . . '. 

Your most welcome letter of various dates reached 
me on March 1st. We experienced a very great 
pleasure in reading it, and I thank you for your kind 
words, which are in such marked contrast to those we 
have received from South Australia, but of which I 
do not intend taking any notice whatever — I would 
scorn to defend myself against charges which would 
fain place me on a level with a liar, a thief, a hypocrite, 
and a fool. My only observation to you concerning 
these wicked and foolish Kenttown letters is, that 
they are as untrue as they are unkind and unchristian. 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

If they had been true, then I could not have done 
better than followed Judas Iscariot's example, who 
"went and hanged himself," for I should have been 
unfit to live, so intolerable an existence as must have 
been mine. 

I do not envy the polluted mind from whence such 
evil thoughts and words could flow, nor the sublime 
compound of impudence, ignorance, and peerless 
egotism which shines in every sentence of these pro- 
ductions, in which there does not throb one feeling 
of love to God or man, nor one single word which re- 
cognizes the dignity and glory of self-denying service 
for Christ's sake. 

They breathe the meanness of a soul which never 
rises above the pecuniary estimate of life, which would 
have called Christ a fool for not making friends with 
the Pharisees, or a spendthrift because He was home- 
less and moneyless, or a lunatic because He preferred 
death and a Cross to life on earth and a Crown. Does 
such a man dare to call himself a follower of Jesus, 
or dare to say his highest glory is in treading in His 
footsteps? I tell you that there are charges in these 
letters, and sentiments too, which even the Devil him- 
self would more than hesitate to utter concerning me 
— for, even in Sydney, my enemies would call him a 
fool for his pains. But I will say no more. Lies are 
not immortal, and sooner or late they return to their 
parents, and driven out of the world with scorn they 
return to the heart from whence they came out, no 
longer plausible and fresh looking, they are vile, 
loathsome, stinking, slimy reptiles with poison fangs, 
which coil themselves around the soul which produced 
them. God have mercy upon the liar, for he burns in 
the unquenchable fire which falsehood kindles and 
which only eternal love can supplant! 

But not to me belongs vengeance — 'tis to God that 
belongs, with Whom also is power and mercy; and, 
as for such power of forgiveness as I possess, it was 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWTE 

exercised long ago. My one regret is that I am under 
temporary monetary obligations to one who has acted 
in such a way, and my consolation therein is that I 
never incurred such obligation by my own action, but 
that it all sprang from his own first origination, as 
I can easily prove. Meanwhile, my hope and faith are 
strong that ere long the Lord will deliver me out of 
the hands of this Philistine, who is, also, so closely 
related to me. I cannot doubt that the Lord Jesus is 
a stronger friend to me, than this man can prove a foe. 
I know them both, and God knows whom I trust. He 
has delivered from all my fears, and it sometimes 
makes me smile to see how weak and powerless men 
are to hurt me, so safely and tenderly does the Chief 
Shepherd keep and care for me. 

However, this is the first reference which I have 
made to this matter in my correspondence with you, 
and I have done it, not to vindicate myself — for "God 
is my judge" — not to condemn others — for to their 
own Master they stand or fall — not to give anyone 
pain needlessly — for that would be sinful — and not to 
invoke comment upon the matter from you — for that 
would lead to endless letter writing without good re- 
sult. I have only written what I have because I am 
your son, who does not wish that any shadow should 
rest upon your thoughts of me, and because I am sure 
you will believe me without further proof, when I 
solemnly declare to you, that the charges which have 
been made against me are utterly baseless in fact, so 
far as they reflect upon my character and uprightness 
in conduct. 

There is, at the same time, another object which 
may be obtained by this reference and it is this, that 
you may use your discretion in communicating the 
position which I take in this matter, respecting 
further intercourse. I may say that, after long medi- 
tation and prayer, I came to the conclusion that I 
would not write another line nor hold any further 

234 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

correspondence ; for if I had answered, or were not to 
answer his last letter, as it must be dealt with if I 
replied at all, I would, in his present state of mind 
and heart, fail to do good, so far as I now see. There- 
fore, I shall hold no intercourse with him whatever, 
and neither wish to see him nor hear from him any 
more, unless he is prepared to recall the shameful in- 
sults he has heaped upon me. He has vexed my heart, 
and hindered my work more than all my difficulties 
put together; and if men generally had dealt with me 
in anything like the same spirit, I must have failed 
long ago. There is not one kind word of encourage- 
ment, or of hope, in all his writing. Had I been 
living the life of an abandoned prodigal, he could not 
have employed harsher terms of reproach. He classes 
me with those who "have denied the faith and are 
worse than infidels;" he tells me that I have incurred 
God's curse by bringing to Him robbery for a burnt 
offering; he declares to me "your" (that is, my) "con- 
duct has been simply disgraceful ;" he says I have 
shown "an ungovernable temper;" he tells me that 
"it now appears that your work in Sydney is a failure ;" 
he calls me "a fool" in half a dozen places ; ignores 
all I have written, misrepresents facts which were set 
before him with the utmost clearness, and abuses me 
from beginning to end, without exception, through a 
letter of eight pages. The only pause in this raging 
is when he pauses to contemplate, by way of contrast, 
his own spotless virtue, and his exalted position as a 
prosperous man. To give you an instance, take the 
following words, which succeed the epithet "pauper" 
as applied to me, which word doubtless suggested the 
remarkable sentence : "I firmly believe" (this then is 
his true creed), "that the secret of my prosperity in 
Adelaide is the fact that I leaned upon no one what- 
ever for help in money matters ; but trusted entirely 
in my own energies and good management." Is not 
this a most astounding creed for a professional Chris- 

235 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

tian man? Has God no part in that which this man 
possesses? Then, though I am no prophet, I may 
prophesy that, unless he repents quickly, God will 
write speedily his epitaph, as He did on the tomb of 
the rich man in Christ's parable, in two emphatic 
words — "Thou Fool." I say to him, he should read 
these words, — "Who maketh thee to differ from an- 
other? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? 
Now, if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as 
if thou didst not receive it?" 

Let him take care lest the angel of the Lord smite 
him as he did king Herod, "because he gave not God 
the gloty." That proud fool was eaten up with worms, 
and I fear me the loathsome worms have begun their 
work on thy proud heart that sayest, "my prosperity 
is my own doing; I leaned on no one, I trusted en- 
tirely in my own strength and my own wisdom !" 
Didst thou never read, "Trust in the Lord with all 
thine heart, and lean not to thine own understand- 
ing;" or, "He that trusteth in his riches is a fool;" 
or, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool?" 
These words are Divine, and will last long after thou 
hast, in body, mingled with the dust; long after thy 
ledgers have vanished into the smoke of the last fire, 
should they last so long; and these words will appear 
awful to thee at the judgment seat of Christ, unless 
thou dost repent, O miserable boaster: "Lo, thou 
trustest in the staff of this broken reed, in Egypt (the 
world) ; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his 
hand, and pierce it." Yea, and it will go deeper still, 
it will "pierce thy heart through with many sorrows," 
and then fling thee overboard to "drown in sin and 
perdition," unless thou hast a care for thy soul's true 
welfare. 

'Tis in these words that I would reply to such 
blasphemous boasting and pride. 

As to the charges, of which I have quoted a few 
in this boaster's own language, I am under no neces- 

236 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

sity to reply; they bear their reputation on their face, 
as lies generally do, and I can dare proof of one of 
them with a calm conscience. God has justified me, 
and is justifying me ; and He will give such an answer 
yet as will put this man to shame, who dares to make 
out that I am rather a son of Belial, than a son and 
servant of God. Indeed, ever since I received that 
letter, now more than a month ago, I seem to hear a 
voice Divine saying, "The Lord shall fight for you 
and ye shall hold your peace/' and I have obeyed the 
word. What has been the result? This: the work 
has been blessed in an unprecedented degree, and now 
appears to be entering upon a period of most hopeful 
character, and I do from my inmost soul give all the 
glory to God, from whom alone I receive power and 
blessing. The marvelous success I now enjoy is God's 
answer to the declaration of my traducer that I had 
failed. 

I will not go further back, at present, than the be- 
ginning of this year, on the first Sunday of which I 
preached my first sermon in the Masonic Hall, where 
for seven months I had preached, under circumstances 
I venture to say of such keen trial as few men are 
called upon to pass through. God alone knows my 
temptations and distress during that time. It was one 
unbroken period of faith endurance — there were few 
sunny days, and there were protracted drouths, as it 
were, mingled with dark nights of tempest, when 
we must have gone under had not Christ been in the 
vessel. The place was a most unsuitable one, and that 
alone greatly damaged the work. But I dare not just 
now attempt a history of that time — which I now see 
was most blessed to my own soul, and which most 
thoroughly sifted my people. I do not complain of 
one single grief or sorrow the Lord permitted me, in 
His unerring love and wisdom to me; for they have 
all been blessings in disguise, or have been overruled 
for my good, without a single exception. 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

They were painful, but now I sing already "the 
conquerer's song;" for the Lord has delivered me, or 
is delivering me, out of them all : 

"Why should I complain of want or distress, 
Temptation or pain? He told me no less: 
The heirs of salvation I know from His Word, 
Through much tribulation must follow their Lord." 

I dare say, when Gideon's host melted away from 
32,000 men to 300, he was not without temptation to 
fear that he would be crushed by the Midianitish foe. 
But the Lord took "the fearful and afraid" away, ay 
and thousands beside, "lest Israel vaunt themselves 
against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me." 

He did that, too, with me. He emptied my ex- 
chequer often ; He reduced my congregations to a very 
small number often ; He diminished my helpers, and 
took away all my trust in man until I leaned on Him- 
self alone; He pointed the way to bolder enterprises 
in the face of an utter want of apparent resources; 
and then when I obeyed, He proved His faithfulness 
by giving me the most glorious victories I have ever 
won, in this battle which is the Lord's. 

Tomorrow will be the tenth Sunday of preaching 
in the Victoria Theatre, and I can say that every Sun- 
day has shown a steady and large increase in the at- 
tendance, an increase in spiritual results, and an in- 
crease in material resources. As to the last of these, 
I will only mention this fact, that last Tuesday eve- 
ning in the Temperance Hall a meeting of my people 
was held at which the sum of 15 pounds per week, for 
all expenses, was guaranteed for the next three months 
certain, and a committee was formed to relieve me 
entirely of all perosnal responsibilities. 

The expenses of Theatre, handbills, advertising, 
etc., come to 7 pounds per week, which will leave me 
8 pounds for my personal income, and if our pros- 

238 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

perity increases, then I shall see my way to more. 

Of course, I shall need to have to pay up what I 
am behind now, but, if the Lord spare my life and give 
me health and success, it will not be long ere I shall 
"owe no man anything" but to love them, as God re- 
quires, and as I do — I feel I owe love to all men, when 
I remember God's love to me. 

Does it look like failure, or does it look like some- 
thing very different, even from a temporal point of 
view? Of course, I do not expect that it will please 
my traducer, even though it is the Lord's doings; for 
I fear that he imagines God's way of dealing with me 
could be greatly improved upon, if application for 
advice were only made to him. But I believe in "the 
Lord's doing" infinitely better for me, than if I "lean 
on no one," or "trust entirely in my own energies and 
good management." In fact, I have such confidence 
in the Lord, even "in money matters," O mine enemy, 
that I am determined He shall be my Banker and my 
sole Executor should I die tonight, or should I live 
for forty years ; and for this reason, He has never failed 
those who have "put their trust in Him," which can 
be said of no other. 

I would reckon it to be a shameful insult to God 
were I to say I could trust Him with my eternal 
spirit, and yet would hesitate to entrust Him with 
the care of my body ; and I know of nothing which 
can be meaner or more detestable than such a course 
would be. 

I am afraid that many men are treating Christ as 
if He were a kind of spiritual Assurance Agent who 
takes the risk of insuring their souls for a small 
premium of money or lip service, so that, in case of 
accidents, heaven may in this way be bound to make 
things all right. Oh, what a terrible awakening awaits 
those who make a "house of merchandise" of God's 
Temple, and who reckoned their "prosperity" and that 
of others to depend on pounds, shillings and pence, 

239 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

and that God had no part in even that ! 

I have had very keen trials in money matters; but 
I and Jeanie have no personal extravagance with 
which we can reproach ourselves. 'Tis the work 
which has demanded of us heavy sacrifices. All the 
way through I have believed that it would be blessed. 
And God has rewarded the faith which His Spirit has 
sustained in my heart. 

The work which I am now doing I think is quite 
unique in its character, so far as I know, in any of the 
Australian Colonies. Connected with none of the 
denominations, aided by none, hindered by many, and 
looked askance at by all, I have gathered one of the 
largest congregations of men to be found in this city 
— and largely of such men as never enter a Christian 
church edifice. Nine-tenths fully of those attending 
are men from twenty to fifty years of age with some 
older and younger — there are also not a few gray 
heads. This kind of congregation is rare here, and 
most of the churches are three-fourths female in their 
congregations. 

But most striking of all, I have won the respect and 
confidence of Free Thinkers in no small numbers, and 
I never preach at night without seeing among my 
audience numbers of men who have been connected 
with the Free Thought and Spiritualistic Societies of 
this city. I have the joy of knowing that some of 
them are free thinkers now of the right stamp, made 
free by Christ, the Truth. 

But I could fill pages with the stories of strange 
people we have drawn up in our deep sea fishing net. 
Perhaps one of the strangest just now is a giant look- 
ing gray headed old Mormon — I believe he was an 
Elder or something of the sort — who has been in this 
city for many years — generally known as "Mormon 
Joe." He is a most singular man, and, I cannot say 
that he would pass muster anywhere as an orthodox 
Christian, but he is an acute thinker, a fluent, earnest 

240 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

talker, and a stern lover of Truth and Righteousness, 
according to his light. Then, as a different specimen, 
there is a Scotchman, whose case is most remarkable, 
and the details would fill pages. Drink had been his 
ruin and nearly his death. It had got him into bad 
company, and into prison for various offenses in Vic- 
toria, and here, during the last five or six years. He 
was three years in Pentridge Gaol, Melbourne, for 
horse-stealing when on a drunken spree; then, after 
various adventures, he came to this colony, and at 
New Castle was more successful in his business, but 
spent it all in drink shops. Eventually he came to 
Sydney. However, being utterly godless and passion- 
ately fond of drink he again got into trouble, and was 
sent for several days to prison because he could not 
pay a fine imposed upon him at the Central Police 
Court. After this he drank harder than ever, and at 
last, feeling very ill, he wandered away out into the 
country, until he reached the foot of the Blue Moun- 
tains, then a fearful time followed, for he was in the 
awful grip of delirium tremens. Wandering into the 
mountains he got lost in the bush, extraordinary 
fancies possessing him in the intervals of his in- 
creasing bodily torture. One of his fancies was that 
he fought with bushrangers and was severely wounded 
by their swords. 

Poor fellow, his wounds were self-inflicted. He 
had cut his throat with a razor which he carried, and 
nearly five days after he left he was found on the rail- 
way line through the mountains by some plate-layers 
in a horrible condition, covered with blood, unable to 
speak, and apparantly dying. He was removed to the 
Sydney infirmary where eventually he recovered. He 
was then tried at Quarter Sessions for attempted 
suicide, and in consideration of his great sufferings he 
was discharged. He wandered about the streets in great 
misery, constantly tempted to spend for drink the few 
pence which he had, and, finding that he could get no 

241 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

employment, he became very despondent. He had 
had very little food, and had only four pence left and 
was utterly without hope. As he wandered through 
the streets one of our young men accosted him and 
gave him one of our handbills and got him to promise 
to come to the service. But, when he came to the door 
his heart failed him, and he was shrinking back, when 
he heard my voice, and some words fell on his ear, 
and into his heart, which caused him to go in at once. 
Everything seemed intended for him. Old memories 
of a Christian home in Glasgow were awakened, and 
new thoughts, too, in his despairing heart, and ere the 
sermon had closed, he had given his heart to God. 
Deeply moved, he went out with the crowd. As he 
approached the door he saw the collection plate, and 
was regretting his poverty, when suddenly he remem- 
bered that he had four pence left. He put the four 
pennies in the plate, and passed out into the night, 
knowing that he would need to sleep in the streets or 
in the park. But he scarcely slept at all, he prayed 
a good deal, and asked as a token of mercy that he 
might get work the next day. The morning came. 
He got work early that day, and since then — more 
than a month — he has procured decent clothes, I have 
had long conversations with him, and dressed so 
respectably, with a pleasant countenance, and calm 
manner, it is difficult to imagine him as he has been, 
until you hear him speak of his past, when the tremor 
of his speech and the emotion which fills his eyes with 
tears, shows you how he has sinned and suffered. 

But it would not be right for me to leave you to 
think that our congregation solely consists of such 
classes as are represented by the two I have named. 
There are many in it who have been connected for 
many years with every denomination in the city, I 
think. There are others, besides, who come irregu- 
larly, and whose prejudices are passing away. Nor 
must I forget to name the noble band from my late 

242 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

church at Newtown, who have stood by me with a 
splendid courage and self-sacrifice which is beyond 
praise, coming in three miles, fair or stormy weather 
alike, — nearly all of whom are the fruits of my minis- 
try there, and all of them coming without a word of 
solicitation on my part; for except the outcast and 
careless, I have never solicited a single human being 
to attend my ministry. 

In the front of that noble band, who are the very 
heart center of my people, there stand two men — 
Frank Allum and Thomas S. Hutchinson — and, under 
God, it is to these two men we owe very much of our 
success. In point of honour they stand equal in my 
love and confidence, and in the respect they receive 
from every one who comes into contact with them. 
They are both the fruits of my ministry at Newtown. 
Such men as they are rarely found amongst men on 
earth; and for real goodness of heart, cheerfulness of 
manners, coupled with simplicity of faith, and per- 
fect consistency of life, they have never been sur- 
passed in my experience. These two men are rep- 
resentatives of not a few who are attending my minis- 
try. Surely there never was a more singular company 
banded together to sustain a Christian minister. 

We are, by God's mercy, building up a church 
which shall yet do great work for the Lord in this 
city and land. I do not fear either the dangers or 
difficulties which stand like "lions in the way," if 
God give me only bodily and mental health, added 
to "the grace sufficient" which He has never withheld 
when I have gone forward with the rod of faith, which 
is mightier even than Moses' and Aaron's rods. 

But there is need for every virtue and every grace ; 
and were I not sure that I am where the Lord would 
have me be, the great burden of this work would be 
too much for me. Yet as it is, loads which seem as 
mountains to many outside are feathers light as air 
to me, since God puts in me the strength of His own 

243 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Spirit to bear them. I do humbly hope, that I am now 
at the end of the difficulties as to the finances of the 
work, and that we are about to enter upon a period 
where the only concern will be how best to do it. 

My rather bold use of the printing press has been 
fully justified by the results, and I am now speaking 
weekly, through my weekly tracts, to many thousands 
of homes in this city. People send them to their 
friends in the country districts, in the other Colonies, 
and in England ; and you will find them here and there 
pasted up on the walls of offices, in the cabins of 
sailors, etc. On the Sundays, I observe many per- 
sons reading them in the parks and on the streets, and 
many persons stop our distributors now and ask for 
one. The Theatre is situated in the very center of 
all the traffic in the city, and many passers by to whom 
they are given under the gas lights of the front 
entrance, stand and read them, and often afterward 
turn and go in. I shall keep on, therefore, writing a 
new one every week. 

My successor at Newtown has been telling his 
audience that "amusements," so-called, ought to be 
indulged in, and that he would as soon die playing a 
game of billiards as in a prayer meeting, etc. Not to 
be outdone by his neighbors, Mr. J — followed suit, 
and made a great panegyric upon the Theatre and 
its noble capabilities. 

I can stand it no longer, so I have now entered the 
field, and shall lecture, if God will, on Sunday eve- 
ning next on "The Drama, the Press, and the 
Pulpit." I am especially provoked by the gross 
ignorance, and daring untruth of his representations 
concerning the ancient Greek drama. He says, — "The 
tragedies of Aeschylas and Sophocles contain high 
moral and religious teaching. They represent men 
as they ought to be, not as they were. But the theat- 
rical assemblies of the ancient Greeks were no more 
satisfied than theatrical audiences of modern English- 

244 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

men with ideal pictures of a noble life." 

Now when I tell you that the three tragedies are so 
disgustingly filthy in their plots, full of incests, parri- 
cides, fratricides and horrible fornications that it 
would be impossible even among men to read them 
aloud without shame, and that some of them set forth 
the disgusting lasciviousness of the gods and their 
bestial natures without any sense of shame, I ask you, 
wherein lies their "high moral and religious teaching" 
in this nineteenth century? What have these heathen 
poets of five centuries before Christ to tell us of 
"high morals," when the most shameless immoralities 
were ascribed by their worshippers even to the gods, 
and what kind of "religious teaching" is that which 
peoples the heavens with monsters, who hated and 
fought with each other, and wreaked their diabolic 
passions in leading men to commit the foulest of 
deeds? The "Agamemnon" and "Libation Pourers," 
two of "Aeschylus' " tragedies and the "Oedippas 
Tyrannus" and the "Oedippas Coloneus," two of 
Sophocles', are so horrible that one shudders even to re- 
call their plots, and so filthy that they would not be tol- 
erated for a moment on the boards of even the vilest the- 
atre. In the first two named, a wife of a great king dis- 
honours herself and, aided by her paramour, murders 
her husband, both of whom are in turn murdered by a 
son of that husband, whilst, as episodes, Agamemnon, 
leader of the Greeks at the siege of Troy — sacrifices to 
the gods his own daughter, and returns home with a 
concubine from Troy, named Cassandra. In the other 
two, a child is exposed on a mountain to die by order 
of his father and mother, who are king and queen of 
Theks : but is preserved, and afterwards, when grown 
up, in ignorance of his birth, murders his father and 
marries, horrible to relate, his own mother, Jocata, 
by whom he has four children, all which ends in the 
suicide of the wife-mother, and in his two sons murder- 
ing each other in battle fighting for their father- 

245 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

brother's throne. Then, remember too, that the gods 
are at the bottom of all this abominable crime ; and 
now here Mr. J. — says that these tragedies are "ideals 
of a noble life". These are strange words from a 
Christian preacher, or one who professes to be such, 
and I, for one, think that an ignorance so extreme must 
be dealt with in plain language. If the modern drama 
is capable of purification, certainly the filth of Sophoc- 
les and Aeschylus are poor purifiers. I had rather the 
worst of modern dramas than that. And, if Christian 
ministers are to aid in that talk, they must have clearer 
ideas of "morals," "religious teaching," and "ideals" 
of noble living than this man, who talks of writers 
of whom it is charity to suppose he is wholly ignorant. 
I shall do my best to deal fairly and plainly with the 
whole subject, and in such a way as shall show that 
I have no sympathy with dramatic performances as a 
rule, nor can I see in what way the drama is to be 
made a beneficent and progressive power, which it 
never at any time has been, so far as I can find, and let 
those who say the opposite prove the contrary. . . . 

Your offer to send me a black suit as a present 
touched me, and seemed most kind; but I feel almost 
ashamed to accept so costly a gift. My present frock 
coat is rather old and shabby, and I have only got 
through the summer by getting trousers and vest and 
wearing my dress coat, which you made in 1867, under 
a yellow silk dust coat. I need, it is true, a frock coat 
immediately, for the present one is more thoroughly 
worn out than any of its predecessors. Therefore, I will 
accept, upon condition that you will accept in return 
a few books it is in my mind to send you, and a little 
money when I can. I assure you money has been very 
tight, indeed, often with me, and I have, with Jeanie, 
been most parsimonious in personal expenses — it is 
the establishing of our work which has taken the 
money. I often regret my inability to provide help for 
mother, who should rest more than she does, I fear, 

246 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

and I hope I may yet, for the future looks brighter. 

My measures, taken just easily, without straining 
the tape, are, chest 40 inches — waist 39 inches. You 
may be surprised at my corpulence. I do not under- 
stand it myself: for I am a moderate eater and a hard 
worker. But I sleep well, and live regularly as to 
meals, etc. I weighed, two or three weeks ago, no 
less than eleven stone and six pounds, and yet I do 
not look the weight : for I natter myself I am not 
disproportionate in figure — although I do not see my- 
self as others see me. 

To all our friends remember us with kind wishes. 

Pray for us daily yet more and more — it strength- 
ens me to know you and many more do — and remem- 
ber that you are always in our hearts and in our 
prayers that you may be supplied "in all your need" 
out of the fullness of God's infinite love in the Lord. 
I am, 
Your affectionate son, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Answers anonymous writer who criticises work — J an ' 8, 1880.) 

My Dear Mr. Editor: 

When I read today in your issue of January 2, 
the spiteful misrepresentations of some correspond- 
ent signing himself "Spectator/' I was reminded of 
a story told of one of my "brither Scotts." He was 
for some reason, or more probably for the want of 
reason, a subject of many unpleasant gossiping 
tongues, and at last in cynical defiance he wrote over 
his gate, "Men say; what say they? Who cares what 
they say?" Now, although no cynic, and by no means 
regardless of the opinion of my fellow men, I al- 
ways treat anonymous attacks as I do anonymous let- 
ters, with both of which I have for years been largely 
favoured, with the utmost contempt; and seldom do 
I now bestow a second thought upon them. During 

247 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

more than six years' residence and public life in this 
city, and for the last three years bitterly opposed by 
all sections of the Philistine Press which curses this 
city and defends the grossest iniquities of our social 
and political life, I have only once appeared in print 
in self-defense. Frequently, I have been attacked 
by all four newspapers in one day. The "Herald" 
would sneer loftily in its ignorant, purse-power, im- 
portant way at my "fanaticism" concerning the 
Liquor Traffic and Intemperance; its evening "Echo" 
would virulently stab at me through its "Funny Man" 
in its "Zigzag Papers" column, where roundabout lies 
abound on every subject; the vile sheet called the 
"Evening News" would follow suit, a paper which 
feeds on garbage and exists to glorify vice and liquor- 
dom generally; and then the new paper, "The Daily 
Telegraph", must needs have its little fling, to please 
its pro-liquor editor and proprietors. And now, my 
friend, you must see it would never do to begin at- 
tempting to fight these valiant "we" people on their 
own midden heaps : for there would be nothing gained 
worth the effort, nor would I be wiser in pursuing 
these critical flesh flies into their malodoring dens. 
In this city I leave my daily life and work to answer 
these cowardly anonymous persons, but it is a dif- 
ferent matter when they cross to your city, where my 
work is less known, and endeavour to needlessly 
blacken me to a people among whom I lived without 
reproach for nearly one fourth of my life, and where 
slanders against me are but cruel wounds to the hearts 
of my nearest kindred who have lived in your city 
for twenty years. For their sakes, principally, I feel 
it my painful duty to make an example of "Spectator", 
and since I shall need to speak of myself and my af- 
fairs in doing so, let me ask you and your readers 
to do me the justice to keep in mind two facts, first, that 
I do not willingly write concerning myself, but of ne- 
cessity imposed upon by my traducer; and, second, 

248 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

that the facts which I shall mention I am so little in 
the habit of boasting about, that they have never been 
made public through the press before, even in Sydney, 
although I have had abundant opportunity of so pub- 
lishing them. 

Now let me proceed to my unpleasant task of un- 
masking this nameless slanderer, and disproving his 
false assertions. 

"Spectator" denies the accuracy of a paragraph 
concerning me in your issue of December 12th, and 
boldly asserts, "Mr. I}owie's work in Sydney has vir- 
tually collapsed." 

As to the paragraph referred to, it is for you, Mr. 
Editor, to defend its accuracy in its first instance, 
by calling upon those who supplied the substance of 
it to you. 

You know that I did not, either directly or in- 
directly, and I have not any knowledge of who did. 

During my short stay of five days in Adelaide, I 
did not see you or any one connected with the paper, 
and neither sought nor inspired the paragraph, and 
first saw it after my return to Sydney. 

The principal portion of your paragraph concern- 
ing my work here was quoted from another paper, and 
was written entirely without my previous knowledge 
by its able and well known editor who resides in Syd- 
ney, who has attended the services in Victoria Theatre 
when he could scarcely find a vacant seat in that large 
building, who has many independent means of judging 
the value of the worj/ he has written of so kindly, and 
is probably as well fitted as any man in the Australian 
Colonies to write concerning its spiritual results. 

He is quite impartial, for though I think sympa- 
thizing generally with the work, he is not one of its 
direct supporters or co-operators. 

He is a "Spectator" whose unsolicited testimony 
and statement of facts is entirely opposed to your 
anonymous correspondent and I venture to say that 

249 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

fact entirely condemns the slanderer. And as to the 
other portions of the paragraph, I do not know who 
wrote or inspired them, but at the time they were 
written, they were literally true in every particular. 
I challenge "Spectator" to prove a word in the para- 
graph to be either false or exaggerated, and I further 
demand that he will not sneak behind the coward's 
cloak of anonymity, but write boldly under his real 
name. 

Not content with disputing the truth of the para- 
graph he propounds his first false assertion that my 
work has collapsed, when my work is going on, and 
in the opinion of some qualified to judge, is more likely 
to be firmly established than ever. Perhaps the fact 
that the Sunday previous to the late election for East 
Sydney and for the Sunday after, I did not preach 
as usual, made this ignorant traducer to say the Mis- 
sion had virtually collapsed. But let me tell this 
"Spectator" that the Mission was all the while in full 
working order, and had regular weekly business meet- 
ings during my brief absence, and actually arranged 
for a twelve months' lease of a new hall — the Inter- 
national — in a central situation in Pitt Street. I 
preached there, on the day appointed when I left Syd- 
ney for resuming work, viz : December 28th, and the 
place was comfortably filled on that first Sabbath 
evening, although the weather was unpropitious, the 
Hall almost unknown, for it has not been finished a 
month, and it was only advertised the previous day. 

Last Sunday I preached there to a large audience, 
and had what I fear "Spectator" cannot appreciate, the 
joy of being followed to my home by enquirers, who 
are asking with tears, "What must I do to be saved"? 
So far as man can judge, many received the blessing 
they acknowledged to have desired. I was delighted 
to find God thus signally blessing my offer of Christ's 
glorious salvation as a New Year's gift, and I take it 
as a loving token of His continued approval on the 

250 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

work of which I and the faithful band of Christian men 
and women associated with me have been engaged for 
nearly two years. Week evening services are held in 
the same hall by me, work among the young is begun 
with good promise, and it is quite possible that my 
committee may secure the Hall during the whole week 
for my various operations, and indeed I may say that 
pending that possibility, the lease for which they have 
agreed has not been signed. Many are of the opinion 
that for our evening services the Hall is too small ; but 
it is a most convenient building, and more liked by 
my people than the Victoria Theatre. 

These are the simple facts. Does not their mere 
statement completely demolish the slander of "Spec- 
tator" that "Mr. Dowie's work in Sydney has virtually 
collapsed"? Surely the wish was father to the lie. 
At any rate, the probabilities are, you will see, "Spec- 
tator's" statement is in a state of actual collapse. 

But I proceed to examine another statement of 
"Spectator's" which is of a retrospective character. 
He says, "that while some good has been effected, it 
has been an utter failure pecuniarily". 

I will deal at once with the first portion of that 
remark that seems to contain half a sneer, as to "some 
good" being done by our evangelistic services. It 
will lead me to give you a brief outline of the origin 
and progress of the Mission, which may interest your 
readers, and be of some service to my friends and foes 
alike. 

In the first week of February, 1878, I retired, en- 
tirely of my own free will, from the pastorate of the 
Newtown Congregational Church, which I had held 
for exactly three years, and from all formal connection 
with the Congregational and all other denominations. 
This I did for reasons which then and now seem to be 
sufficient, reasons entirely of an impersonal character, 
not the least powerful of which was, as it seemed to 
me, the absolute necessity of reaching the utterly 

251 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Godless majority of this city by means of an entirely 
free Christian organization, where no Talmud of tradi- 
tion nor fetters of unbelievable creed, would stand 
between the preacher and his expression of what he 
believed to be the truth of the Word of God. I believe 
that it was the will of God that I should take that 
position, and that confidence was the result of more 
than a year's direct prayer and thought upon the mat- 
ter. Therefore, I came into the city, took the Theatre 
Royal; I did not then, and never have at any time, 
asked any one to join me, and at once set to work. The 
Lord gathered around me devoted friends and larger 
congregations than any I had ever preached to before 
for over four years in Sydney. 

The work has gone on ever since without the inter- 
mission of a single Sabbath service, excepting the 
month's rest which it was agreed I should take in 
December, and during that period my fellow workers 
met together every week, and kept up their contribu- 
tions. And what has been the good done? Who can 
tell or dare to estimate? I cannot, and dare not. 

Eternity alone will declare the results of these two 
years of unremitting and delightful work. But of 
what has been apparent, I may be allowed to speak, 
and tell, to the glory of God alone, from Whom the 
power and blessing came, some of the work done and 
its results. 

Severe trials, disappointments, and temptations I 
have had and do experience ; but these are what I ex- 
pect. True, they have been severe, and sometimes of a 
kind unexpected, but I have not murmured, nor will I 
murmur at that. I humbly hope I have learned that 
God's will is always best; and my confidence that His 
love has never permitted aught but what was for my 
highest good, and that of those whose welfare I sought, 
has been my constant strength and joy. 

During 1878 the services were conducted in the 
Theatre I have mentioned, and in two of the largest 

252 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Halls of this city ; and I do not think a week has ever 
passed without evidence of God's Spirit working in 
the services, amongst people of all ages and classes. 

But during 1879 the work was carried on entirely 
in the Victoria Theatre, except on week evenings, and 
for many months every available seat was occupied 
before the service began, and on more than one occa- 
sion many unable to get seats went away, and many 
stood throughout the service. 

During nine months of last year I wrote twenty 
imperial octavo tracts, and had them stereotyped. 
These were printed, with an invitation to each Sun- 
day's services on the other side, and a weekly average 
of nearly 6,000 copies were distributed gratis on the 
Saturdays and Sundays. A total number of 210,750 
were printed and given away — of these 89,500 were 
direct appeals to the heart and conscience to accept 
God's gift of pardon, peace and life in Christ under 
various titles, 79,250 were connected with the evils of 
intemperance and kindred social evils, and 42,000 
were addressed to Roman Catholics especially and set 
before them the errors and evil designs of Rome, with 
particular reference to the pastorals of the Archbishop 
and Bishops of the Church of Rome. 

Two pamphlets of 2,000 each edition were written 
and printed, and that entitled "The Drama, the Press 
and the Pulpit" has been widely read, and a very 
large number of a reply to Dr. Vaughan, entitled 
"Rome's Polluted Springs" have been read by persons 
who were connected with the Church of Rome when 
they first read them and are now Protestant Christians. 
Lectures and addresses on many subjects were deliv- 
ered during the week in various Halls, and I have 
repeatedly been chosen spokesman to successive 
Premiers with a view to induce Governments to in- 
troduce a reform of the Liquor licensing laws and Sun- 
day closing of public houses — not without good result. 
I know of many cases of conversion through the 

253 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

tracts, some of whom joined churches of various de- 
nominations, and it has been my joy to hear many 
say, "I yield myself to Christ and trust Him as my 
Saviour," or, "I will drink no more," or, "I doubt no 
more," or, "I have done with the Church of Rome." 
In my Committee I could find some of each class 
named, and, whilst I would not wish, through inadvert- 
ence, to overstate in so solemn a matter as the conver- 
sion of souls, yet I think I should be within the mark 
if I said that about 200 persons have given 
themselves to the Lord under my ministry during 
these two years. Nearly one half of these are with us, 
and the remainder in the country, or divided among 
the churches — some are now in other lands, and a few 
are safe over in the better land above. Very heartily 
do I recognize the noble help and prayerful sympathy 
of my devoted fellow servants of the Lord in this work 
as the secret spring of many a soul being won from 
sin in my ministry, and I do wish again to most 
humbly acknowledge all the blessing is from the Lord. 

Will you permit me, then, to give this, necessarily, 
most imperfect outline of the "some good" to which 
"Spectator" so sneeringly alludes as having been done 
in the work, which I am afraid he will be disappointed 
to see has not collapsed. It is a duty I owe to my 
gracious Lord and Master to record thus gratefully 
my testimony as to His faithfulness, in blessing so 
richly the mission which I entered upon alone, believ- 
ing that I was simply obeying His will ; and I believe 
now still more firmly that this work is of God, and 
that it will not cease until His objects in it are ac- 
complished. 

And now what of "Spectator's" statement, "It has 
been an utter failure pecuniarily." Suppose it true — 
what then ? Who claimed that it had been a pecuniary 
success? Certainly I never did, for it has been a very 
great pecuniary loss to me. But Paul could say the 
same, and much more; and I am afraid that "Spec- 

254 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEK DOWIE 

tator" would have been compelled to pronounce the 
Redeemer's own earthly ministry "an utter failure 
pecuniarily," as did His treasurer, Judas Iscariot, who 
could only make money out of it by selling his Mas- 
ter for silver. That was the only pecuniary success 
I read of in that Mission. Yet who would dare to even 
mention the fact of its impecuniosity as a charge 
against the Lord? Is it not indeed one of Christ's 
glories that "for our sakes He became poor that we 
through His poverty might be made rich"? And, if 
I am poorer through my ministry, I am no more dis- 
posed to write "failure" upon it, and abandon it on that 
account, than I am to brand Paul, John Bunyan, or 
John Wesley as "failures" because they cared more 
for the souls of Christ's sheep than for their golden 
fleeces. But it would be a shame to me were I to 
allow the Mission to be branded "an utter failure 
pecuniarily". More money has been raised and spent 
upon it during the two years than was raised and 
spent in actual work, apart from ministerial salary, 
in any church of which I know in Sydney — for the 
actual sum paid to defray the Mission expenses, apart 
from anything to me, has averaged nearly 10 pounds 
per week. That work is not an utter failure pecuni- 
arily which has done that. The burden and anxiety 
concerning means has fallen entirely upon myself, 
and I do not doubt that the Lord will take care 
that I do not lose in His work. He is 
"good pay", even although He keeps His servants 
waiting long, as it seems to them. We have made 
no appeals for aid outside the circle of our immediate 
friends, and beyond the money given by our own 
hearers, the outside help has been a trifle, compara- 
tively. I have a shrewd suspicion that "Spectator" 
knows nothing about the matter, except from idle gos- 
sip, for which I am a fair target, and I think it very 
probable that, notwithstanding even he admits we have 
done "some good", he has been "no good" pecuniarily 

- . 255 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

or otherwise to our Mission. But let me tell him this 
is an old story of his, and has been often repeated by 
him and others, doubtless in the hope that the fact 
might be so. This is a fair specimen of much of the 
pretended Christian charity with which my work is 
regarded by many denominationalists, whose church- 
es are doubtless pecuniary successes, but at the same 
time huge spiritual failures, offensive in their pride, 
laziness and worldliness, both to God and man. 
"Spectator" may yet be found to be one of the "greedy 
shepherds who feed themselves", with whom I am no 
favorite, you may be sure. 

And now in a word, I desire to say this : that come 
pecuniary failure or success, this Mission will go on, 
whilst God preserves my strength and gives me souls 
for my hire. This work does not depend upon money, 
but upon God's grace ; and I have learned that "power 
belongeth unto God" alone. I say, I will tarry at 
Sydney for the same reason that Paul once said he 
would at Ephesus, — "for a great door and effectual is 
opened unto "me, and there are many adversaries". 
One of the clearest signs that I ought to continue here 
lies in the very fact that people like "Spectator" abound 
here, and are very bitterly opposed to me. That is a 
clear proof that the great Adversary does not like me, 
and therein I rejoice; for as the song of the Salvation 
Army has it, so also say I : 

"The Devil and I, we can't agree, 
"I hate him and he hates me." 

Perhaps "Spectator" may turn out to be a partaker 
of or a trader in those poisons which the state has 
established by law as a traffic to destroy, and which 
have been called by Robert Hall "liquid fire and distilled 
damnation," which is an apt description. Now all men 
know where I stand upon that question, and that I 
have contracted with the Lord to spend my life in 

256 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

doing what I can to crush that modern Moloch, the 
Liquor Traffic, which is perhaps a "pecuniary success" 
after "Spectator's" own heart. 

I shall hope yet to convert even my traducer to my 
way of thinking about that trade in human misery and 
despair. 

Now let me refer to another statement of "Spec- 
tator's". He says, "There is no likelihood whatever 
of a building being erected in which to carry on the 
services." 

Now, even whilst you were printing his letter, we 
had just entered upon a building erected for the pur- 
pose, although not by us. Two newly built Halls 
were offered to us, and if they had not offered, let me 
tell "Spectator" that in all likelihood we would have 
leased a central block of land, and built a large, tem- 
porary building thereon at once. But when the Lord 
had built us a central and fairly suitable place, we did 
not need to face the larger undertaking until we were 
stronger. By God's bessing, we shall ere long 
erect our Free Christian Tabernacle, which faith has 
long planned, and I do not despair of seeing this poor 
despiser a wondering "Spectator" in that House of 
God which we shall yet preach in, if spared to continue 
this blessed work for the Lord Jesus. 

Here, my dear friend, I leave "Spectator" for the 
present. With my very earnest good wishes and 
prayers for you and "The Christian Colonist," I am, 
Yours in the Lord Jesus, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Addressed to his friend, Holding, Sepi.3, 1880, Darlinghursi, Sidney.) 

My Dear Q : 

Although it is only three days since I sent to you 
my last letter, yet as an opportunity offers by the 
"Chimborazo" which leaves Melbourne on the 7th I 
write you again, knowing you would like to hear from 
us as often as possible. 

9 

257 



THE PERSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

I am glad to say that two days ago I received your 
letter from Auckland dated August 17th, and was de- 
lighted to get it and all the dear, loving words con- 
tained in it. It was like "cold water to a thirsty soul" : 
for it was truly good news from a far country. I had 
almost given up all hope of getting it, and so it was 
the more welcome. I have read it over and over again, 
and carry it about with me in my breast pocket to 
re-read when I am quietly sitting somewhere outside. 
Surely our love has been Divinely given : for it is be- 
yond all ordinary love of men, my best beloved. I 
thank you for the nice letter — no eye but mine has 
read it, as you desired; but I have read from it to 
Jeanie, and when G — comes tomorrow I will read 
part of it to her. You may be sure that every letter 
you write to me will be appreciated. Write freely 
all that is in your heart, so far as that is possible, and 
I will guarantee that your letters will but strengthen 
the ties which bind us to each other — ties which 
neither earth, nor time, nor distance, nor every evil 
power can weaken — for our love is from God, I believe, 
and that kind of love never faileth. 

You will now be getting near San Francisco, and 
are I trust well, my beloved. My prayers are unceas- 
ingly for you, and I have a sure belief that they are 
being graciously answered. You are safely encom- 
passed by God's hosts, and no evil can hurt you. "The 
angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that 
fear him and delivereth them". And who is that angel, 
but Jesus, who says, "Lo, I am with you alway." May 
you rest secure in His loving promise. 

The meeting of the electors of South Sydney who 
were favorable to my candidature was held on Tuesday 
night. For a first meeting it was large and very en- 
thusiastic. My supporters are growing more and more 
numerous and confident daily. They anticipate that 
I certainly will get in as one of the four to be elected 
for that constituency and that I may even head the 

258 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

poll. I am neither too hopeful nor too fearful. I shall 
do my best to win, and I shall not be disgraced even if 
I am defeated. The elections do not come off until next 
month and perhaps not until November, so that it will 
not be necessary for me to speak much upon politics 
for a month. As you know, I do not seek to enter 
Parliament either for its honours or rewards. I simply 
desire to initiate legislative reforms on social matters 
such as the liquor traffic, the whoredom traffic, and 
the official corrupt trafficking. I want to put legal 
hindrances in the way of immoral and destructive 
pursuits. I want to do something to elevate the tone 
of public life, and to get the rising generation, especi- 
ally, to see that "politics" are not synonomous with 
lying, trickery, and successful Parliamentary corrup- 
tion. I want the people to know that "politics" rightly 
understood mean patriotism, self sacrifice, high moral, 
intelligent action, and purity of speech and life. "Sa- 
lus populi suprema est lex" was the noble old Latin 
motto — that is — "The safety or welfare of the people 
is the supreme law." And so every Christian man must 
hold. The people, Christ lived for; 'twas the people 
whom He taught ; for them He suffered ; for them He 
died ; for them He ever liveth to make intercession ; 
for them He bids His followers live, suffer, and if needs 
be, die ; and for the people, therefore, in this spirit 
I desire to labour. Hence "politics" is an essential part 
of my ministry, and on that point I am glad you and I 
agree, as indeed I believe we do on all matters, for I do 
not remember anything on which we seriously differ. 
I have taken for myself a room in Stephen Court — 
in 99 Elizabeth Street, where I will place my library 
and study fittings, and a sofa bed. I will stay at "Cool- 
abah", as much as possible of the week, and get the 
good air and rest of the Blue Mountains to prepare me 
for the Hill Difficulty, which lies before me in the 
shape of "politics", which when climbed will, I doubt 
not, lead to the House that is called "Beautiful", as 

259 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEB DOWIE 

well as to the House of Legislature. 

I am not very well, my best beloved, and friends 
are beginning to say that lately I have looked worn 
and weary — and they must be right, for I feel weary. 
I have had a very distressing cough day and night for 
weeks past, and a pain in my chest and languor very 
unusual to me. But during the last two days I am feel- 
ing a good deal easier, and I hope, if it be God's will, 
I shall continue to improve. The contemplated change 
gives me hope, and I thank God it has come at this 
time. 

Stephen Court, where I intend having my room, is 
next to Temple Court, only that it enters from Eliza- 
beth Street, round the corner from King Street. It 
is most convenient and central in situation. 

Rent is 12s. 6 d. per week — 2 s. 6 d. for cleaning, 
etc. extra — and I can get my meals at the Coffee Pa- 
lace and even sleep there, if I please. I think I have 
done right. To have boarded with anyone would have 
been expensive and inconvenient. I avoid both evils 
and get cheap and good quarters. 

You will, I know, forgive all that is amiss in this 
letter. No doubt it will be chargeable with faults of 
omission if not of commission ; but you will know one 
thing, surely, that every word of it is written by the 
hand of one whose heart is full of true, deep, and 
strong love for you. Look upon every word in that 
light, and then you will see, that which I see in your 
letter, love shining like the sun with its radiant beauty 
in every line ; for love is the light of life, and nothing 
that is unclean or false can be concealed in its presence, 
whilst every thought and word and deed and memory 
is clothed with beauty and rilled with sweetness and 
gladness by its presence. Love never faileth, it ever 
groweth, it cannot die. 

How comforting to know that come what will, love 
cannot fail. 

260 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

"They err who tell us love can die ! 
With life all other passions fly, 
All others are but vanity ; 
But love is indestructible." 

I feel the words are true of you and I : for our love 
is given by God, and, therefore, cannot be destroyed. 
That conviction keeps our hearts at rest, though seas 
and lands divide us: for love unites us. 

How I wonder, as I sit here quite alone in the 
silence of the night, where you are ; how you are ; what 
you are doing; what has happened to you, what will 
happen, before this reaches you? What condition you 
will be in at the time you read these words, etc. etc. 
But all that is in vain. I can only pray, be patient, 
and wait. By and by we shall tell each other all. . . . 

Interruptions, indeed ! Why, I have been a prophet 
beyond my wishes very, very much : for it has been 
nothing but interruptions, and about the busiest week 
I have had for years. On Tuesday night I was up all 
night engaged in writing a letter to the Attorney Gen- 
eral, pleading for a young man who had got into great 
trouble with his Department, through a series of 
blunders, if not crimes, which led to his suspension and 
threatened to lead to his imprisonment. He is a young 
man of great ability, of hitherto unblemished character, 
and most respectably connected in London. I had and 
have the highest respect for him: for I am quite sure 
that he committed himself while suffering from mental 
abberation, and that he did not intend to commit a 
crime or wrong the Government of a penny. 

This view of the case I have induced the Minister 
for Public Works to take, who is the head of the young 
man's Department, and I think my letter, which dealt 
at great length and most exhaustively with the whole 
subject, will induce the Hon. R. Wisdom to take the 
same view. In fact, he did so unofficially through my 
conversations with him in his office. The members 

261 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

of the Government treat me with much personal re- 
spect, and from what I have heard, I have reasons to 
believe that Sir Henry Parkes desires to have my sup- 
port very much, or that at least I shall not go against 
his Government at the approaching General Election. 
The case of which I have been speaking has caused 
me much toil and anxiety, and hindered me from the 
pleasanter task of writing to you, my dearest boy. 

But you will, I know, not complain because of my 
doing this good work — for if I save a soul from death, 
and I have every reason to believe that by God's grace 
I will, and save aged and pious parents from going 
down to the grave with broken hearts, I am engaged 
in work wherein I know you are heart and soul with 
me, work which it will be our joy to do much of to- 
gether in days yet to come. . . . 

My dear ones are, I hear, getting on well at Cool- 
abah in the Mountains. I hope to see them all on 
Monday night and to see them getting fat and rosy 
cheeked. They like, Jeanie says, the place well, only 
they miss me very much and want me there — flattery, 
you know. 

But to keep me humble here is an antidote in the 
unflattering impudence of a "poem" from the comic 
organ of the Spiritualists, from whom, by the way, I 
have received several new abusive letters since you 
left. 

The "Bulletin" also has been at it again. 

I will cut out a few of their would be funny para- 
graphs, and send to you. 

But wait. We shall have our turn some day in the 
press, and meanwhile, it does not hurt me. I laugh 
and pass on, and as people tell me, I am growing fat 
upon it — hard work, no sleep sometimes, and all. . . . 
I am wondering today whether you are in New York. 
Dear brother, I do feel for you in your visit there ; as you 
stand beside your dear one's grave I seem to be with 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

you in spirit. "Be of good cheer", there is much to live 
for. Let your dear ones all live so that when they 
end this life those they have left behind may bless the 
world through ages yet to come. I shall, with you, one 
day see them : for 

"Bye and bye we shall be standing, 

"Bye and bye, bye and bye, 

"At heaven's shining landing, 

"Bye and bye; 

"And our friends will round us gather, 

"Saying, 'Welcome,' for the Father, 

"Loves to have His children nigh." 

Blessed thought — so shall we be forever with the 
Lord, and with all these dwell with Him in the many 

mansions above Beloved, I must close or I will 

miss the mail. Forgive me for being so hurried. But 
you know how you are ever in my heart, in my prayers, 
and in all my plans 

After posting my letter to you last night, I returned 
home to write my tract. I was interrupted by a visitor, 
and did not get to it until late. 

However, I stuck to it, and finished it about three 
this morning. It is entitled "Seducing Spirits and Doc- 
trines of Devils," and is the second against Spiritual- 
ism. I think it will be good : for it goes straight to 
the proof of most serious charges against this abomin- 
able superstition. The Freethinkers and Spiritualists 
are getting very angry, but that is a good sign. I hear 
from many of good being done to many who were on 
the brink of the abyss of Atheism, and only yesterday 
I received a letter from a workingman cheering me 
on, and saying that I was on the right track as to his 
class. 

I have had a good long sleep, and am now fresh 
again, in a quiet house, with time for at least two hours' 

263 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

writing — and for that time purpose to have a quiet 

talk, as it were, with you, although it won't be nearly 
so pleasant as were our long night conversations in the 
room above me. 

Every minute I expect to hear the bell ring and the 
telegraph boy appear with a message from you telling 
of your safe arrival in Adelaide. Day and night I have 
besought the Lord to take you safely there and to 
strengthen you in body and soul. I expect a gracious 
answer : for I am sure that the Lord has preserved you 
for His own gracious purposes, and these will, it seems 
to me, be best fulfilled by your life being spared. "The 
fields are white unto the harvest," and ere your day 
declines and the sun of this life be set, you may labor 
with me to bring in and fill with Purity and Peace and 
Joy those who are weary amidst the world's mad, mock- 
ing mirth, and groaning amidst the unrest, the unclean- 
ness, and the sorrows of sin in the city and throughout 
the otherwise beautiful land. I want to have you with 
me to say to the wanderer: "Come in!" and then to 
seat them at the Banquet of Love. I want to see your 
hands spread the first communion table in our new 
Tabernacle, which the eyes of faith often see. Last 
night, or rather this morning, I dreamed that I was 
passing, a stranger in the city, through the streets, 
when I came to a large, well lighted, comfortable, even 
cheerful looking building. The brilliant light from the 
street lit up the whole front, and above the wide door- 
way on a white marble slab, I saw, carved in large 
letters which shone like gold, the words "Have Faith 
in God". I entered the door, thrilled to my heart by 
these words, and saw a sight which stirred my soul 
with deep emotion. The building was full — tier upon 
tier the seats rose upon every side, from the platform 
down to the farthest end of the building. Every eye 
was turned toward and every ear was listening to the 
speaker, who was saying, "O my beloved, believe me, 
God is Love !" And above the speaker's head, on a 

264 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

wide, beautiful scroll on the arched recess behind the 
platform, there were these words in shining letters : 
"Christ is All." And, whilst I looked, behold, I found 
the speaker was myself, and in front of me, and all 
around me, I saw the faces of all my dear ones — wife, 
children, brother, parents, friends from far and near, 
and a multitude of eager, softened eyes of waiting souls 
were looking upon me from every side, as I awoke 
repeating, "Yes, He is, He is Love." But it was no 
dream, after all. It was only my waking thoughts 
in our "Free Christian Tabernacle." 

But enough of dreams, however beautiful. Thank- 
ful am I for such thoughts, let them but nerve us for 
realizing them ! "To the work ! to the work ! we are 
servants of God, let us follow the path that our Master 
hath trod." 



{Feb. 12, 1880 — gives account of campaign for a seat in Parliament — 
his defeat — its resultant effects — gets deeper into mire of debt — resolves to 
close the mission in Sidney — sudden change in material affairs is wrought 
ivhich is ascribed entirely to Divine intervention — plans for speedy organ- 
ization of church.) 

My Dear Father and Mother : 

Your most welcome letter of 5th has just reached 
me and I thank you from my heart for all the kind 
words and wishes you have written therein. 

You might very reasonable have complained of my 
silence; but you do not, and thus find excuse for me. 
I cannot so easily excuse myself; for I feel it would 
have been far better to have written at once after the 
East Sydney defeat, since neither after reflection nor 
knowledge of facts have in the slightest degree altered 
my convictions concerning that event. On the con- 
trary, everything has confirmed my statement that Dr. 
P — achieved a disgraceful victory by employing the 
vilest means, and that events would cause the electors 
yet to be ashamed of their choice — and they are so 
now, so far at least as the Temperance and Educational 

265 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

(Protestant) votes are concerned, as I shall show you. 
But I was too sad and disappointed to write to you. 
God's goodness to me was very great, and I was won- 
derfully supported amid the conflict. But the strain 
of rapid traveling to and from Adelaide and the toil of 
brain and voice and body from my arrival here the 
11th, until the following Wednesday, told upon me 
very heavily, and indeed, I have not yet recovered 
from the effects. Then it is so difficult, almost impossi- 
ble, indeed, for one to write or even speak in such a 
way as clearly to put before you at a distance the 
whole facts concerning so intricate and deceitful a 
batch of lies as for the most part an election here is. 
However, I will try to give you some idea of the facts 
in this letter, or else I fear I will never be able to give 
you my version of the affair. Every one in Sydney 
who knows anything about this election knows that 
I was not defeated. I was sacrificed, in a panic, through 
greed and fear, which is not an uncommom thing, and 
shows us yet more clearly than ever before that money 
and alcohol are the slaves and yet the tyrants of men 
who are the destroyers of the people and dishonorers 
of God. 

Mammon and Bacchus are the supreme rulers in 
the political arena here, and unless God prevents they 
will enchain and drag down fair Australia into the 
depths of an awful political hell. Approved by the 
press, applauded by society, smiled upon by the 
churches, and placed in the most influential positions 
by a deluded people, the high priests of Bacchus and 
Mammon are the rulers, and "they love to have it 
so." Nothing can be clearer than that awful fact. 

God help Australia! God awaken a slumbering 
Church to see the serpents and adders which are being 
nourished in its, bosom! God help the bruised and 
bleeding and dying multitudes who are wailing in their 
despair and struggling amid the seething, blood-dyed 
waters of the abyss of Intemperance, whose cries are 

266 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

being drowned by the drum beat of vicious pleasure 
which Mammon and Bacchus keep ever sounding to 
stifle the sounds of the perishing crowd of souls whom 
they are pushing below these dark waves, having de- 
stroyed for them all human hope ! 

God help the faithful few, who are found amid a 
faithless world and a hypocritical Church, and who will 
not bow the knee to Baal ! God help me, too, I cry 
this day ; for I am sorely tried and diabolically tempted 
to fight no more ! O, Thou blessed Lord, who did say 
to one, when he in vain self-confidence boasted that 
he would not fail Thee, "I have prayed for thee that 
thy faith fail not ;" pray Thou, too, for me, and deliver 
me from Satan who desires to have me that he might 
destroy me and destroy my power to serve Thee ! O 
blessed Saviour, I would have a part in the restoration 
of the world for which Thou hast died ! If I. may but 
see Thy love in my trials, Thy strength in my weak- 
ness, Thy light in my darkness, Thy good purposes 
in my crushing disappointment, I will be able to bear 
the load and say "Thy will be done." 

How hard to say, when all is dark above my head, 
when dreary is the path I tread ; how hard to say, 
amid the triumphs of the Evil One; but though I die 
I yet say, "In me, my God, Thy will be done !" 

I am very full of prayer tonight : for I do want to 
know and do the right, and I am surrounded by many 
dangers. 

But I must tell you about the election, and then 
about our work, for the one is connected with the 
other, and you will understand our present position 
better if I tell you how we were affected by the political 
contest. The contest lay between myself and Renwick. 
Knowing the claims I had upon the Temperance and 
Protestant voters, with the support of the working 
classes, I went into the contest with every hope of 
winning, although I knew that my opponents had 
spent a great deal of money in carousing for weeks. 

267 



THE PEESOXAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

My first meeting was a great success and gave me a 
unanimous vote on the evening of the day I arrived 
at Adelaide. The next evening I had a splendid 
hearing at my principal address in the Temperance 
Hall and a unanimous vote. 

That night I sat up and finished my address to the 
electors, which was published in the paper of the next 
day and in the "Herald" and "Telegraph" of Monday 
and Tuesday. Ten thousand copies of it were printed. 
It did me a lot of good, and every one seemed to have 
a good word to say for it. The meetings on Saturday 
were splendid — I had three — and had unanimous 
votes. When the week closed I had addressed about 
six thousand persons. The Renwick party were in a 
dreadful scare. But Saturday night brought them 
their opportunity, and the unprincipled rogues began 
their game on the husting. 

A very influential deputation from Renwick's 
Committee sought an interview with me. Dibbs, an 
influential merchant, was spokesman. He began by 
praising my address, and said, "We know you are the 
ablest and best man of the two. But why not split 
the votes? You are too late in the field. Retire in 
favor of Dr. R — now, and we will pay your expenses 
and help you all we can the next General Election." 
I said, "Gentlemen, you have brought your answer." 
They asked me what I meant. I replied, "If you tell 
the truth, I am in your opinion the best man. Then 
why ask me to retire ? Gentlemen, the best man, who- 
ever he may be, should go into the House : go and 
ask the next best to retire; and like honest men give 
your votes. But whatever you do, say no more to me 
about paying my expenses : that means dishonour, it 
means bribery to my mind." I had them fairly in a 
corner, but of course they were not to be moved by 
logic. I knew they were insincere and unreliable. 
They tried then to bribe my Committee to get me to 
retire. Two did fall into their hands, if not more. 

268 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Allum, the Treasurer, and Hutchins, the Chairman of 
the Committee, were offered 100 pounds each, they 
said, to get me to give up ; and on the Tuesday evening 
four members of my Committee were told that if I 
would retire — the very evening before the election — 
a check for 500 pounds would be forth-coming. This 
was looked upon as trickery, or bribery, and rejected, 
of course, by them. 

But it shows how they feared me. Do you imagine 
that I had "no chance at the beginning" when this 
was their conduct on the very eve of the election? 
What I tell you are indisputable facts. But they 
played their cards well that evening and gained an 
important point at a meeting of the Orange Institution, 
whose great lodge, it appears now, had pledged them- 
selves to Renwick before my return; and false friends 
stood up and said that though they had the highest 
opinion of me, and under other circumstances would 
have supported me, they advised Temperance men and 
Protestants not to vote for me but for Renwick, say- 
ing that Renwick was right in his views with both 
those parties. The paid officials of the Temperance 
Orders,who had also in my absence pledged themselves 
to secure the Temperance vote for Renwick, without 
even consulting the members of these orders, aided to 
get a mass meeting of Temperance men at the Tuesday 
evening to declare against me. 

They failed : for though my friends had only a 
few hours' notice, they rallied and outvoted the traitors, 
who abruptly closed the meeting, amidst great confu- 
sion. But the "Herald" falsely declared the next 
morning that the vote had been against me. The said 
"mass meeting", too, was a contemptible failure as 
to numbers; for even with my hurriedly summoned 
Temperance friends, it did not number three hundred. 
An address which I delivered to a large meeting, ex- 
posing the treachery of Holdsworth, Davies and others, 
at the Bathurst Column, not far from the Temperance 

269 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OP JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Hall, an hour before their "mass meeting," effectually 
prevented a declaration on behalf of Dr. Renwick by 
the Temperance men. But still the poison told, and 
with a Protestant Hall meeting of which I have written 
above, it fairly frightened my supporters. Then the 
next morning the papers came out with strong, leading 
articles for Renwick, of course, and whilst they, for 
policy's sake, refrained from attacking me to any great 
extent, yet they warned the electors that there was a 
danger of Tooth going in if they voted for me. Lying 
rumors of my retirement were then circulated, bills 
were printed and posted about, which stated the fact 
that I had withdrawn, and paid touts hung around 
the polling booths and repeated that and similar lies. 
They did this with a thoroughness and success which 
surprised themselves, and left me far away out of the 
running. They spent money like water, and beer 
flowed freely at Hodges' Hotel, their Central Com- 
mittee rooms, while scores and scores of vehicles drove 
about the voters, and the unclean political vultures 
who swarm about on every side at such times doing 
all kinds of dirty work. 

Of course we did nothing of the kind, and every 
vote cast for me was in my eyes worth a score of 
Renwick's, who was, I knew, deceiving the people and 
especially the Temperance and Educational Reform 
Parties — if indeed there exist such Parties where so 
many are rogues or fools. Thus was the disgraceful 
victory won. 

Had the Temperance men voted on principle, they 
would have voted for me. 

I was a lifelong abstainer — Renwick was a "mod- 
erate drinker". 

I had led in many movements against the Licensing 
system, had advocated every plank in the Temperance 
Platform, had preached constantly against it, delivered 
over forty special sermons and lectures against In- 
temperance, and written, printed and circulated from 

270 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

80,000 to 100,000 tracts upon the subject within two 
years, had been chosen as spokesman to Government 
after Government at the head of large deputations, 
and never had I once flinched or failed to do my duty 
in the matter, in private or public life. 

Renwick had done absolutely nothing, was relying 
for support upon the publican ex-mayor, Roberts, who 
was his first advertised chairman, and though the false 
Temperance men said he had adopted the Temperance 
Political Platform, I did not believe it, for he cunningly 
avoided saying so himself, and his notorious actions 
in the House since he took his seat have fully proved 
before the whole country that I was right. 

Had the Protestant Party voted on principle, 
especially the League, they would have voted for me. 

Three years ago I fought that battle in my reply 
to Dr. Vaughan, ("Rome's Polluted Springs") and in 
my preface I warned the country that "the true friends 
of National Education should arouse and look to the 
guardianship of the National Treasury upon which 
Papalist leaders have dangerously affectionate designs, 
at present artfully veiled under liberal phrases". On 
pages 82 — 4 of my pamphlet I announced the views I 
hold today, and exposed the fallacy of the cunning 
scheme which Dr. Vaughan had advocated in his 
"Hidden Springs", under another name. I had deliv- 
ered six lectures in Sydney, Newtown and Newcastle 
at that time, and had printed 2,000 pamphlets at a cost 
of time and strength and money such as Dr. Renwick 
never has dreamed of giving to such matters. Then I 
delivered a series of six lectures upon the Roman 
Catholic Pastorals in the Victoria Theater to crowded 
audiences from July 13th to August 24th last year, 
and one on September 14th on the Roman Educational 
Agreement which I denounced and exposed ; besides 
which I wrote, printed and circulated over 42,000 tracts 
in connection with these lectures. I also delivered the 
series in the Temperance Hall on week evenings. 

271 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Where was Dr. Renwick then ? His voice was never 
heard, he never uttered any protest, he never exposed 
the Papal plots, he never sought to enlighten the 
people, he was busily making money and doing well to 
himself in worldly things, and no one ever heard his 
new born zeal in those days when my pen and brain 
and voice were found in the forefront of the stern con- 
flict. No, he reaped what I and others sowed, and he 
reaped it by fraud, deceiving the people into the belief 
that he was their champion, when he was only making 
them tools for his ambition. In his written address 
he expressed no opinion on the Education question 
and it was only at the last moment that he adopted 
the role of Protestant champion, and hoodwinked the 
League into a pretended belief of their platform, as 
he has shown by his votes upon the Bill now under 
discussion in the House Assembly. 

But in the panic and whirlwind of lies which swept 
over the city within two days, like one of our dust 
storms, my services were forgotten and hundreds ad- 
mitted that they voted for Renwick only to keep Tooth 
out, whereas had they voted for me who believed in 
me and in my principles, neither Tooth nor Renwick 
would have gone in, I verily believe, but I should have 
won the seat. 

This is now admitted by many who intensely re- 
gretted their votes when they saw how they had been 
tricked, and who regret them still more when they 
see how he votes in the House. 

Briefly I will tell you how he has already voted 
and acted. 

His first public act after he took his seat was to 
introduce a deputation of wine and spirit importers 
and of brewers and distillers to the Colonial Treasurer, 
Mr. Watson, whose object it was to protest against the 
proposals of the Government to increase the duties 
upon imported intoxicants and to impose an excise 
duty of 3d per gallon upon all beers manufactured in 

272 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

the colony — and the first speaker he called upon to 
address the Treasurer was Mr. Mitchell, who I am in- 
formed, is Mr. Tooth's partner in the Liquor Trade 
(!!!). Was not this a consistent beginning for a Tem- 
perance reformer? Does it not prove that he knew 
he was indebted to the liquor dealers for some sup- 
port, or at all events that he meant to support them? 

Why, Mr. Tooth could not have done more. He 
would scarce have been important enough to do as 
much as introduce his own partner as first speaker. 

Then his next act of gratitude to the Temperance 
Party was to vote against increasing the duties on 
spirits, and his reasoning ( !) upon the question shows 
clearly that he would approve of reducing present 
duties : for that would reduce the danger of smuggling 
which he says he fears, and cheapen the drink to the 
consumers, thereby increasing the quantity consumed, 
and so promote temperance (!). Beautiful Temper- 
ance Reform this, ye Temperance traitors ! But the 
Government carried these proposals — no thanks to the 
chosen representative of the Temperance Orders. 

Then his next stroke in Temperance Reform (down- 
wards) was to miss the first chance which has ever 
presented itself in the history of legislation in this 
Colony to tax the manufacture of beer, and to bring 
the breweries under inspection. 

He voted against the 3d per gallon excise duty, 
the voting, had he gone on the Government side, 
would have been just equal, and the Speaker, it is 
believed, would have voted with the Government, so 
that Renwick's single vote was sufficient to turn the 
scales and squeeze a 100,000 pounds this year out of 
beer, which at least was the estimated revenue expected 
from the tax by the Treasurer. Glorious achievement 
for Holdsworth, "The Social Reformer", the Temper- 
ance "Orders," etc. etc. ! It has put back Temperance 
legislation for years. If the present "strong Govern- 

273 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

merit", as it is called, cannot with its large majority 
carry taxation upon beer, you may depend upon it 
their successors will be chary ere they attempt such 
proposals in days to come. Had I represented East 
Sydney then, we should have carried the tax, and 
driven in the thin edge of the wedge of further restric- 
tion, if not of prohibition. 

This, however, would not have been the new Temp- 
erance principles, I suppose. 

And now the fourth and latest act is on the Educa- 
tion question. It was proposed to amend the Bill now 
before the House by introducing one of the principles 
of the League, which did so much to put Renwick in, 
and of which both he and I are members — the principle 
that there should be no fees, that education should be 
like police protection, free to all, since it was to be 
provided by the state from the taxation of all. Dr. 
Renwick voted against that proposal, and voted for 
3 d per week being paid by every State School scholar, 
arguing that the Treasurer could not afford to lose 
the 35,000 pounds which that fee would bring. Here 
again you see the traitor's footprints. Of course the 
Treasurer could afford to lose 100,000 pounds duty 
from beer, but scarcely a third of that sum from Educa- 
tion. Heigh for the New Reformer, set this bright 
boy up in the corner, he'll muddle the brains and rivet 
the chains of children and father and mother! 

Having reformed the liquor traffic by restricted 
taxation, he reforms Education by imposing taxation. 
"Hurrah for stunting the mind and muddling the 
brain !" should be the rallying cry of these new 
reformers. 

Now do you not think my epithet upon the hust- 
ings was most just, and that Renwick won "a disgrace- 
ful victory"? He could not give clearer proof of its 
truth than is supplied by these indisputable facts. But 
do you think our Mammonized Press notice these 
facts or would insert this summary of them ? Nay, "the 

274 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

tabernacles of robbers" prosper by their aid, and woe 
to him who would root out the nest of social and pol- 
itical pirates who prey upon the people in a thousand 
forms. Our Press is their shield, for it is in their 
pay, and those who write therein must obey — or — 
away they must go. 

And now, having given you this long account of 
Renwick and how I was defeated for East Sydney, I 
return to tell you how that defeat has affected the work 
in which I am engaged for Christ, or rather its in- 
fluence upon my fellow workers and upon my personal 
affairs. The "work" cannot be affected for permanent 
injury by anything except sin, and I do not believe I 
sinned in standing for East Sydney. However, the 
effect upon the workers is another matter, and this has 
been a time of the severest testing. How far they have 
stood the test will appear from what follows. 

You will remember that I told you when I left Ade- 
laide that it was the telegram from my people here 
which decided me to accept the nomination for East 
Sydney, in the firm belief that they would not have 
impressed it upon me without good reason and a pretty 
sure prospect of success. 

Knowing that Mr. H — , my Secretary, a man of 
nearly sixty years of age, was an old stoger politically, 
having been Secretary of Sir Henry Parke's Committee 
for East Sydney, I relied largely upon his judgment. 
Then the letter from the Political Reform Union and 
the subsequent adhesion of their President and a large 
number of their Council to my Committee was of 
importance. 

I am bound to say, though, that my friends were not 
sufficiently cautious. 

They failed to make certain inquiries which would 
have shown them that there would be a strong op- 
position to me amongst the rulers of the "Orders", or 
Secret Societies, and relied more upon my general pop- 
ularity with the body of the people, and my personal 

275 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

influence through my speeches during the contest 
than upon pledges of support by prominent persons. 
This would have been all very well had it not been for 
two facts, the first of which they should have suspected 
and ferreted out, and the other was plain enough for 
those on the spot to see. These were, the fact that the 
leaders of the Secret Societies were pledged to vote 
for Renwick before I appeared on the field, and also 
this fact, that he had made most extraordinary progress 
with his canvass, and through dint of a plentiful use 
of money in paying canvassers he had compiled a 
list of promised votes which included large numbers 
of my friends ere ever I left South Australia. Under 
these circumstances, it was not important to bring me 
over, where there was so much to be risked. I certain- 
ly would not have come had I known the real state of 
affairs, and I am sure that it would have been, so far 
as man can see, better for myself and my affairs, had 
I done what I purposed to do when I left Sydney for 
a month. But as it is, I fear it has proved disastrous 
to me in a financial sense, and that it is by no means 
the remote cause of that which will no doubt greatly 
surprise you, my determination to close the Mission 
in Sydney, for the present at least, on Sunday week 
next. 

And now I must explain how this comes about and 
how it is connected with this East Sydney affair, though 
of course there are other contributing causes towards 
this result, which I shall not fail to lay before you, 
yet chief, or rather to speak more correctly the most 
important, is the political one. 

You will remember that I told you the understand- 
ing with which I left my people, as to what was to be 
considered by them and accomplished during my ab- 
sence if I was to go on with the Mission when I re- 
turned. It was decided at a large meeting of my 
friends held the evening before I left that whilst I 
was away they were to consider and decide upon a 

276 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

distinct guarantee of at least 7 pounds per week to me 
as a salary besides the expenses of the Mission, and I 
most firmly told them that unless that guarantee was 
of the most reliable and businesslike description, I 
could not go on at all. It was also decided, that 
arrangements were to be made to secure for a short 
time a suitable place, other than a Theatre, if possible, 
and that we should as speedily as possible face the 
building of a large, temporary edifice, in which to found 
our permanent organization. When I returned, they 
were to be in a position to show me the result of their 
month's work on these matters, and meanwhile they 
agreed to keep up their weekly contributions, and to 
meet frequently and to work with their might. The 
meeting was without exception the largest and most 
enthusiastic and businesslike I ever had, and we all 
parted in the confidence that when I returned every- 
thing would go on better than before. 

Their first meeting was to be held in two days, on 
the Wednesday evening. 

But the very next day, Tuesday, the day I left, the 
announcement was made in the evening papers of Mr. 
Alexander Stewart's resignation, and therefore, that 
East Sydney was vacant. The idea of my candidature 
immediately seized a number of the men on my Mis- 
sion Committee who, finding that a good many outside 
were thinking the same way, seemed to me to have 
been suddenly seized with the idea that my election 
for East Sydney would be a short cut to success for our 
Mission, and save the trouble of organizing in my 
absence. Indeed, both Allum and Hutchinson said as 
much to me, when I returned. Consequently my Com- 
mittee and friends threw themselves into the election 
contest, to the utter disregard of our arrangements. 
Indeed it could scarce be otherwise if they were to 
work for my election — and that I do not blame. What 
I feel about the matter is that their desire to get suc- 
cess by a short cut blinded them to two things, first, 

277 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

the danger to the Mission if I failed; and, second, the 
difficulties which really existed to my being success- 
ful, and which I particularly mentioned to you. Hav- 
ing failed, you will see at glance the blow it was to 
the Mission. True, I began again on the very date 
arranged, but it was without the guarantees I had 
required, and would have had, I believe, had my people 
been working for the Mission, instead of toiling for a 
week at the election with such discouraging results. 
True, we secured a place for our services, the Inter- 
national Hall, but it has proved too small for our even- 
ing audiences, is badly ventilated, and has proved un- 
suitable in many ways; nor can we secure it for the 
year, if we would, the party who lets it to us having 
misled us, as we find he has no power to sublet for 
any term, besides he uses it on other nights for a danc- 
ing saloon. But the prestige of the work has suffered 
by my defeat. Many butterfly, fair-weather friends 
have forsaken me, and some of my apparently firmest 
friends have lost much of their courage and faith, the 
sure result of rashness and over-confidence. It took 
us a good many weeks to see this at all clearly: for 
we resumed work in the holidays and have had a good 
many wet or threatening Sundays and so could not 
be sure of things. Public interest in our work is not, 
I think, at all diminished; but our building being so 
small and unsuitable, we cannot possibly get our 
Theatre audiences. But the fact is indisputable enough, 
we are much weaker. 

I have not changed, there have been no differences 
of opinion nor reason why any of our regular sub- 
scribers should fall away, so far as the work is con- 
cerned. 

But they have fallen away, and in considerable 
numbers within the last few weeks, and consequently 
our small income has been smaller still, and quite in- 
sufficient for our support. I, therefore, called our 
people together to consider the state of affairs, and 

278 



THE PERSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

made the condition of my going on, to depend upon 
their giving me a sum of at least 6 pounds per week, 
independent of all expenses, which are at present, say, 
3 pounds per week ; and that a number of persons, not 
more than 15 or 20 in number, should become respon- 
sible for the regular payment of that sum to me weekly. 
Many faithful ones were willing to do this if it were 
possible, and four or five meetings were held without 
the result being attained. 

At last, on Wednesday evening, a final meeting was 
held to see if it could be done ; for I was getting deeper 
and deeper into the mire of debt, and it was imperative 
upon me either that the Mission should be self support- 
ing, or that it should cease forthwith, at least for a 
time. The meeting was held, I attended it before it 
closed by arrangement, and it was found that the 
average collections in addition to subscriptions, there 
were only about 6 pounds available, and even with 
that, there was no absolute guarantee. There was, 
therefore, no alternative but to give up the Mission : 
for it did not leave me enough to live upon, and I 
consequently said so. Of course, there was general 
sorrow and regret. Those present had for the most 
part done what they could, but the defection was too 
strong: for many had quietly dropped off, and amongst 
them our secretary, Mr. H — , who had been loud in my 
praises up to the very day of my defeat, who had really 
wrought hard in the election and through the whole of 
the Mission had done finely, though by no means 
active as an organizer, and irregular and impulsive ; yet 
he was a most faithful friend in my private difficulties, 
and indeed it is to him that I am at this moment 
chiefly indebted, which makes his defection now the 
more serious and painful to me. That is one of my 
severest trials. I have had and lost troops of what 
are called "friends", and who have really for a time 
been friends, but who have gone back and walked 
with me no more. 



279 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Often do I search my heart and conduct to see 
whether the cause be not in myself; but, though it 
would be of course, untrue and absurd in me to 
say that I am wholly without blame in my work or 
methods, I do find myself compelled to conclude that it 
generally arises from some prejudice against some 
unwelcome truth, or from mere love of change and 
inconstancy of mind, or from the lies and slanders of 
my numerous enemies in the Church and the world. . . . 

What an entire change has passed over the whole 
state of my affairs as described in the previous part 
of this letter ! Ten days have passed since I wrote 
the above words which show you how desperate 
seemed the very existence of the Mission, and my per- 
sonal affairs looked equally black. Truly, God is good. 

Everything is changed. The Mission is to go on. 
A reliable guarantee is given. Very substantial help 
has been given me in my private affairs. 

There are difficulties, but we do not shrink from 
and will overcome them ; there are dangers, but we do 
not fear them : for we see more clearly that God is in- 
deed for us, and we cannot but be victorious. If we 
wanted a motto for our work, we might find an ap- 
propriate one in Exodus 3 :2 — "And the bush 
burned with fire, yet the bush was not consumed." 
Our fiery trials prove to me more than any other test 
could, that the Lord is with us, and our Mission stands 
therefore on holy ground. My faith may have some- 
times varied in its strength ; but it has never from the 
first failed concerning my call to do this work being 
from God, and that He would see me through. I 
believe now more than ever, that this is indeed the 
fact. And we have reason to bless the Lord for the 
trials we have passed through — and they have been 
indeed severe — for it is quite apparent to us all that 
they have brought us every one nearer to the Lord, and 
developed a more prayerful spirit of dependence upon 
Him alone. 



THE PERSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

The change is so great, and so unexpected, it is so 
sudden and so complete, and yet so thoroughly and 
apparently reliable, that I shall find it hard to tell you 
how it has been brought about. Indeed no circum- 
stances will account for it ; no mere human action could 
have produced it ; we ascribe it entirely to Divine inter- 
vention. 

But I will tell you briefly the course of events. 

You will please remember that I am writing this on 
Tuesday, February 24th, and that the facts recorded 
were written on Saturday, February 14th. 

On the following day, Sunday 15th — the second 
anniversary of our work — I announced that I would 
preach, in all human probability, the last sermon in 
connection with the Mission on that night week. But 
ere the evening service closed, at which there was a 
large attendance, although the night was very wet, I 
was asked to request the friends to remain at the close. 
They did so in considerable numbers, several short, 
pithy, heartfelt speeches were made, and it was deter- 
mined to hold yet another meeting on the following 
Tuesday evening, to make one more attempt to keep 
me, and continue the Mission. I agreed to their doing 
so, and the meeting seemed delighted to think there 
was yet hope. A kind spirit of loving appreciation was 
shown towards me, and it was determined that I should 
receive some tangible token of their esteem, should 
I leave. 

But the larger part seemed determined to put the 
idea of my leaving away from them. 

Well, the meeting was held, and was successful in 
getting a reliable minimum guarantee of 8 pounds per 
week, with every hope of increase, for which a certain 
number are responsible in the fullest sense for its due 
payment. This leaves me 5 pounds weekly for my 
home and pastoral expenses — which is just enough — 
but it is a guarantee of such a nature as makes me feel 

281 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

sure of a speedy increase. I accepted it, and from that 
moment our winter has turned into a glorious spring. 

Instead of the intended final sermons last Sunday — 
of which however no public press notice was given — 
I preached two of a totally different kind — and in the 
evening we had an after meeting for prayer and en- 
quirers, which was most encouraging. We had in the 
afternoon about 40 children to begin our new Sunday 
School, and Jeanie and I are forming Bible classes for 
young men and women, which are likely to be well 
attended. There is such a fine spirit among the people. 

We hope to form our church, and establish the 
ordinance of the Lord's Supper, in about six weeks. 
An evangelistic choir in the city has offered us a ser- 
vice of song to aid our funds. We think of having a 
social gathering soon again to celebrate the entry of 
the third year of our work, and its formation into an 
organized church. I intend to lay aside entirely for 
the next three months all dealing with political or 
social affairs in my sermons so far as possible, and 
concentrate my whole efforts upon the comforting and 
edifying of the church, and direct evangelistic effort 
to rescue the perishing souls around. 

Our friends are rallying. Mr. H — is, I am glad to 
say, as fully with us as ever, and last Sunday evening 
he was much affected by the after meeting. He and 
Mr. A — and a Mr. Mel — have stood by me most nobly 
in money matters during this last week; and for their 
kindness I feel no words could express my gratitude. 

No men could have behaved better or more gener- 
ously. They knew well how I had wrought and in- 
curred these liabilities, and they have nobly aided me. 
Will you join with me in praising God for these friends, 
and in praying that the Lord may prosper them in 
their families and affairs, and in their spiritual health? 

We have had sent to us a young man who is a very 
good organist, and who will throw himself heartily 
into the work or reorganizing our choir. Good singing 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

is in every sense a great help, and I hope soon to see 
our choir stronger and more efficient than ever. We 
have quite a number of good voices in our congrega- 
tion. We aim at congregational praise in singing. It 
is, however, as needful that the choir be prepared in 
heart and voice to lead the voices of the people, as it 
is for me to be prepared to lead the prayers and 
thoughts of the people. 

I attach, therefore, great importance to the organ- 
ization of this choir, and pray that we may get the right 
people in it. Satan often makes discord, among those 
who should most of all be in accord, both in spirit and 
voice. I pray it may not be so with our choir — nor 
have any reason to think otherwise. 

We will go on for the present in the International 
Hall and take God's time for a better place. The idea 
is gaining strength that a building of our own is 
needed, and that the success of our church will be 
largely affected by delay in getting it. Had we a 
roomy, plain, well arranged hall in theatrical form, 
with class rooms, and built in an unpretentious style 
in a central position, we could get two thousand per- 
sons to hear, as readily as we can now a few hundreds. 
On several occasions lately our Hall has been far too 
small for those in it, the heat has been very distressing, 
and hundreds more might have been present had it 
been larger. This is a very deplorable fact. But I will 
not worry about it. The matter is in the Lord's hands. 
He will provide. I will do my utmost to raise "The 
Free Christian Tabernacle" whenever the Lord sets it 
before me, and raised it will be, I believe. 

But "Except the Lord build the house, they labor 
in vain that build it." I know that we must wait until 
He has first found "the people", and then He will give 
us a house where we can worship Him and into which 
we can welcome the rich and poor, diseased and dying 
souls, who are spiritually starving in the streets and 

283 



THE PEKSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

the lanes of this city for whose salvation I hourly long. 

Will you pray especially for me in this matter? We 
want the Lord to send us some of His silver and gold. 
He can do it quickly, and I am sure He will, if we are 
faithful in seeking it from Him alone, if we desire to 
use it only for His glory, and if the time has come for 
Him to entrust us with it for this purpose. Surely we 
have now come to the place where we should say, "Let 
us build a house for the Lord." Surely we shall have 
grace to be faithful and unselfish. I really do think 
we are ready, or nearly so, to "go forward", exercising 
faith, in this matter. From this day, I intend to spend 
half an hour daily in prayer for the Tabernacle for the 
Lord, until He grant me the desire of my heart, 
or make me clearly to see that it is not in accordance 
with His will. 

If you will join me in this, I believe we shall not 
pray long ere the first money will be sent for this pur- 
pose, and all the rest in due time. Let us especially 
keep before us in this matter the Lord's own promise — 
"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree 
on earth as touching anything that they shall ask it 
shall be done for them of my Father which is in 
heaven." When we get the building, we will carve 
upon a stone above its central doorway this inscrip- 
tion : "Have faith in God." Now do join me in this 
matter, and tell me how you are impressed concerning 
it. Remember, it is to give a half an hour each day to 
this matter alone. We shall not ask without receiving. 

And now I must draw this letter to a close : for I do 
not wish to be any longer silent. Write me very soon, 
if you please, in reply and it will help me to write the 
quicker in return. I desire to write oftener, but how to 
perform I know not. I need reforming in the matter 
of letter writing. It would be better, doubtless, if I 
wrote shorter and more frequently. But I always 
dread to write what may be misunderstood, and brev- 
ity has that danger. 

284 



THE PEESONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

I can imagine that my letter will give you mingled 
pain and pleasure as you read it; but you will doubt- 
less feel as you read to the end, that I have reason to 
rejoice in God's deliverance and to praise Him for His 
present grace. If you read Psalms 124 and 126 they 
will express exactly what I now feel. But I must not 
close this matter without a few sentences concerning 
personal and family matters. And first I must say 
concerning the five pounds you were good enough to 
lend me to pay my passage, that I deeply regret that I 
cannot at present send it to you. I advanced to my 
Election Committee all the money I had in hand, and 
never got a penny of it back again, although I hope 
I yet will. Then the unexpected cost of the overland 
passage, and the many extra expenses and heavy losses 
I have lately had, has made me to be not only short 
of money, but in plain language, embarrassed, for 
want of it. I hope, however, to be able to send it to 
you ere long, and much do I wish that I were able to 
send you a great deal of money, if that would be good 
for you, for at all events I am sure it would be well for 
you to have a little more than you have at present. 
If ever the day comes when I can, you may be very 
sure I gladly will help you thus. But I am engaged 
in a work where the earthly rewards are but small at 
the best. 

Our new house will be healthier, it has a bathroom 
and other conveniences that this house lacks. It is 
situated on one of the highest points of the city, and 
overlooks a considerable part of the harbor and city. 
There are many reasons which caused us to change, 
but if there had been no other, the fact that this house 
is very old and cockroachy and above all that the 
neighborhood is becoming more unhealthy and over- 
crowded every month would have been reason enough. 
This house lies in the valley near Woolloomooloo Bay. 
Our new home is about a hundred feet higher, I should 
say, and perfectly drained. We move there, God will- 

285 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

ing, on Monday next. 

Jeanie primus is in good average health, and is 
still my good, patient, industrious, and prudent wife. 
She is increasingly useful to me and much liked in 
the work. She has quite thrown her heart into the 
school and will doubtless become a very efficient 
teacher. I wish she had less domestic care, but she 
bears up well and will get through splendidly. She 
has a treasure of a servant, Annie Macy, who never 
counts anything she does for us a trouble. 

Jeanie secundus, that is, Jeanie Macfarlane, is just 
the sweetest little pet you ever saw. She is 
always a picture of content and beauty. She is al- 
ways ready to smile with her eyes. But I wish she 
were stronger. She does not seem to suffer, and never 
gives any trouble, sleeping all night through and 
never rejecting her food. Yet she does not seem to 
keep herself up, her head seems almost too large for 
her dear little neck — they say it is like mine, and mine 
is heavy enough, sometimes, I can tell you. However, 
we have no cause for any alarm, only that she will 
need care, and we are hoping that the fresh breezes 
on the Darlinghurst Heights will give a little more 
color to her pale sweet face and strength to her little 
body. 

As for Gladdy, he is perpetual motion embodied. 
He is growing every way and says and does the most 
astonishing things. He never does, and never will 
do, things by halves. If he is naughty, he is naughty, 
and it needs "father" to put down the rebellion. When 
he is good, he is good, and no infant Jesus artist 
painted ever had a sweeter expression than he. 

His imitation of me is said to be very exact. Oc- 
casionally he delivers a sermon to goats and naughty 
boys whom he sees from our back window. This is 
an exact report of one the other day, and you will 
perceive the theology is quite original, even if it be 
scarcely orthodox, according to Dwight. "Goats ! 

286 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

you are nasty. But, goats, you should be good. Be 
good goats, and perhaps God will make you little lambs 
of Jesus." 

On another occasion, he startled his mother by 
climbing on a chair, then he opened a little book and 
gravely addressed an imaginary audience as follows: 
''Now, all you little children who have books, turn 
to the fifth hymn." And then he went on, "Take the 
name of Jesus with you," etc. The other day when 
she sent him for something, he must have found a 
blind stick loose and pulled it out. When he appeared 
in the presence of his mother with it, the inquiry was 
immediately made as to where he got it. With great 
earnestness he said, "God gave it to me, mother." That 
assertion being at once contradicted, he fell back on 
another, "Grandfather sent it to me, mother" — which 
was too much for our gravity, although we did not fail 
to bring him to a full confession and due repentance 
concerning his having become unlawfully possessed of 
the said blind stick. 

He adores "dear little Jeanie Macfarlane" or "dear 
little sister." He firmly believes she never gets 
naughty, and that "no goat" or "naughty spirit" has 
ever "got into sister's heart," although he will freely 
confess that is not the case with himself. . . . 



(Dated from North Terrace, Adelaide, Feb, 9, 1881, whence, after 
breaking up his home and leaving his work m Sidney, he had gone, en 
route to England to meet a scoundrel by the name of Holding, who under 
the guise of religion and friendship had gained his complete confidence 
and who had promised him a large sum of money with which to build a 
church. The story is told in the succeeding group of letters, the last one, 
dated six years later than the present date, being published in The Chris- 
tian Colonist.) 

My Darling Wife : 

I today received your sweet letter of 1st with our 
dear little son's letter to me enclosed full of "thick 
love," and indeed the^ both cheered me very much. 

287 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

I now sit down to write the first of the long letters 
which I promised yesterday in my telegram; and I 
sincerely hope that I may be able to tell you of money 
on the way even before you read these lines. 

When I wrote to you my last letter, I was with our 
dear friends the McD — 's at Birnam Wood, and 1 am 
sure that I very narrowly escaped a severe illness by 
going there : for I never remember to have felt more 
brain weary and pained in all my life than I did when 
I went there. And yet I could not sleep until after 
dawn for a long time and found myself quite unequal 
to any long sustained mental or physical exertion, and 
after the services which I wrote to you about at Crystal 
Brook were finished I suffered a relapse from having 
overtaxed my head. However, I was by God's good- 
ness amongst the very kindest of friends, and Mrs. 
McD — especially deserves every good thing you could 
think or say of her: for she counted no trouble or 
labour too much to give me ease or comfort. Had I 
been in a palace I could not have had more willing 
servants or more tender care ; and I must get you one 
day to tell our friends in your own sweet way how 
deeply you value their kindness. 

It is indeed a mercy for which I cannot be too grate- 
ful to God that I am spared to you and to my dear 
ones, if indeed my poor, weak life is after all of much 
use to anybody, for sometimes I get to questioning 
very much if it is, and wonder whether after all I would 
be much loss if I were removed from earth — even for 
your own dear sake I have sometimes been tempted to 
ask whether it would not be best. But that feeling 
does not last long when I think of you and your true 
heart's love for me and of my dear little son and 
daughter — to whom I never can be replaced : for even 
though it might not be difficult for you, dearest, to get 
a better husband, — and I say it with sincere humility, 
yet they could never get another father. And I do 
love these children very dearly, and wish it were in 

288 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

my power to be at their side this very moment. They 
and you are worth living for, and I sometimes feel 
as if I could wish to live more for you than I have 
done. I am tempted to ask sometimes if I have not 
lived too much for others, and verily if I were to decide 
that question by men's gratitude, for the most part, 
or even the approval of the church generally, I should 
answer, Yes, I have lived too much for others. But 
when I remember that all the noblest and most fruit- 
ful lives which have ever been lived on earth have 
been for others, and when I remember the Grandest 
Life, that of the Sinless Man, was lived without even 
a thought of self and entirely from first to last for 
others, — then I am ashamed to think of my poor, puny 
self-denials and trials when compared with His — our 
Pattern. 

"Wearied and faint" in my mind as I often be- 
come, when I find my noblest deeds unheeded or mis- 
represented by those who should joyfully recognize 
them, I find I can only be comforted by turning to Him 
who has trodden every foot of this path, and in con- 
sidering Him who endured such contradiction of 
sinners against Himself, I alone find peace and rest. 
He forgives my sins, carries my sorrows, comforts my 
soul, strengthens my faith, brightens my hopes, and 
crowns me with His love. Oh, how kind and how 
good He is to me ; and but for Him I should indeed 
despair: for I am weak, and lonely, and prone to 
wander even though I love Him. But He is patient, 
and without upbraiding receives me to His heart 
again. 

I have learned, though, one lesson very thoroughly 
since I have left you, and that is that we ought not 
to be apart for long, since Satan can make use of our 
separation to create a temptation and hindrance, to 
me at least, which I fully determine shall not exist one 
day longer than I can help. I am glad now, therefore, 
for my detention here, so far as that is concerned, be- 

10 

289 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

cause it has resulted in my determination that whether 
I go to England after Q — comes or not, you and my 
dear ones shall go with me or stay with me, wherever 
it may be. I now feel that it would have been wrong 
for me, and not good for you, for us to have been on 
other sides of the world. Circumstances have made 
us to be very dependent upon each other for sympathy 
in an unusual degree, and I feel that we must never 
leave each other for so long again if it be possible to 
avoid it. 

But this is beginning at the wrong end of my letter, 
and telling you first what properly comes last as to 
arrangement, though indeed it is first in point of im- 
portance. You will want to know, however, what has 
happened to me since my last letter of nearly a fort- 
night — indeed to my amazement I see it is sixteen 
days — ago, when I wrote to you from Birnam Wood. 

Well, don't be alarmed if I tell you that much of it 
seems like a horrid dream which I only dimly remem- 
ber, and would find it impossible to write — for my head 
was more queer than any one knew and had my bodily 
strength not kept pretty fairly up, I would have gone 
down never to rise on earth again. But I never en- 
tirely lost faith and courage and consciousness, and 
kept my deepest troubles to myself for the most part. 
My severest trials arose one-half, and now arise, from 
the extraordinary attitude which my father has taken 
up toward me in this whole matter; and the utter 
shattering at one blow of the confidence of a life time in 
his integrity, and fearless courage, and superiority to 
all low views of self-seeking. And I know that it will 
be impossible for me, even if I were willing, to put 
into any letter of mine words to describe what he has 
said and done against me in Mr. H — 's matters, or the 
strange position in which we stand towards each other 
now by that conduct. 

I came down from Birnam Wood late on Wednes- 
day last, and hoped to find my father in a frame of 

290 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

mind ready to pursue a more straightforward and 
kindly course towards me; but it was entirely the re- 
verse. He had received another of those extraordinary 
letters from Mr. H — reflecting upon me, and seemed 
rather to glory in the fact, although the matters upon 
which he remarked were entire misunderstandings 
on his part, which a few minutes could set right with 
an honest man any day when face to face. 

He asked me to tell him my plans and to hear and 
take his advice. I said I would only tell him my 
thoughts and intentions if he would promise not to 
tell A — one word of what I said. He refused to give 
the promise, and became very angry and abusive. But 
I refused to say any more or to hear or take his ad- 
vise, telling him a few plain truths as to his position 
towards me. He was in a most extraordinary condi- 
tion of mind ; but I had recovered my strength to some 
extent — though this scene threw me back for a little — 
and was strong enough to keep from getting very in- 
dignant with him ; because, painful as it is to say it, 
he seemed deliberately to provoke me with a view to 
getting me to commit myself to the use of expres- 
sions of which he might hereafter make some use 
against me with Mr. H — as he has now threatened to 
do. This was on Thursday. 

I left him as quickly as possible, and had no more 
conversation of any kind with him until Monday — 
waiting to see what news the English mail which was 
delivered on Saturday night would bring. Mean- 
while, I was very little in the house, and on Sunday 
evening I went to Hindmarsh and preached for my 
old friend John McE — , coming back to the city with 
him after service. On Monday morning my father came 
into the room with a letter in his hand which he flung 
down before on the table, — "Read that !" 

It was a letter from Mr. H — and was certainly a very 
strange production, and a fitting climax to those 
which had gone before. It seems someone had written 

291 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

from Australia (father volunteered the information 
that it was not him and was sure it was not A — ; and 
if the one is as sure as the other, then neither assur- 
ance is reliable) — this "someone" had written last No- 
vember saying that I had stated to many persons that 
he (Mr. H — ) was quite unfit to do anything for him- 
self and that I would require to go home and do 
everything for him, etc. — all which you know is quite 
as true as the other fact which someone sent him, 
namely, that I had gone to Melbourne to plead for the 
life of the bush ranger, Ned Kelley. But, believing 
at once this malicious invention of someone, and ap- 
parently forgetting everything he ought to have re- 
membered just at that moment of numberless lies 
which he knew to have been invented concerning me, 
he writes in a most angry and I must say foolish 
fashion, concerning me. He says he will still give me 
the 21,000 pounds and even pray God to bless me, but 
he does not trust me, I am a bad business man and 
not discreet, and not like father, and wishes I was, nor 
like A — in whom and in father he expresses lull con- 
fidence, and winds up by saying that he has been ob- 
liged to show all my letters to his trustees, who have 
requested him not to write to me, to which he has 
agreed, and that he is coming out to Australia by the 
"Cotopaxi" which leaves England (or has left now) 
on February 5th. 

This is a fair summary of his letter and is the 
strongest proof (if he is, as I will still hope and believe, 
an honest man) that he has been for a long time con- 
tinuously subjected to a stream of evil influences. 
The only other conclusion is that he is a rogue and a 
fool, which I will refuse to believe unless it is proved 
beyond a doubt. 

But will your ears, or eyes, credit what I am now 
going to tell you? When father saw I had finished 
the letter I looked on his face, and there was a smile 
of quiet satisfaction. 

292 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

"Well?" he said, waiting for me to speak. 

"Well," I said, "I see this pleases you, but it will 
be a short lived pleasure; for an hour with him face 
to face will be quite enough to put all these lies for 
ever to flight, if, as I believe, H — is a true man at 
heart. That letter does not alter my plans in the 
least." At the last words he started and seemed 
agitated a little. 

"Then you still intend to stay and meet him," he 
said, "and your mother tells me that you are even 
thinking of bringing Jeanie and the children over here, 
too." 

I replied, "Yes, I will stay, and perhaps, — indeed 
very likely, — I will bring Jeanie over, but not to this 
house, depend upon it : for I see more than ever clearly 
that you are agfainst me, and want to see the will al- 
tered to serve your own purposes, many of which I 
now see through." 

He put a strong restraint upon himself and began 
in a coaxing tone — "Now, I would just advise you to 
accept the position this letter places you in ; your 
home is in Sydney and your friends back there; you 
will never alter Mr. H — nor get more than the 21,000 
pounds ; and if you stay you will only make a mess of 
it all." I waited with as much patience as I could to 
hear this precious piece of advice to its close. 

"Well," I said, "whoever would have thought that 
you could have been so wicked and yet so foolish as 
to show me your hand. You certainly are my enemy 
in this matter. You advise me to accept the position 
in which that letter places me, and yet dare to call 
yourself my friend. You know that letter is entirely 
based upon false reports, and advise me to let them 
remain in his mind as true. You know how A — , whose 
tool and helper you are, is false and wicked, and want 
me to let my friend think him true and good, you 

293 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

know you are crooked in this matter, and are afraid 
of my staying here; you try to frighten me for the 
loss of all, but I don't care for that compared to the 
loss of my character; and you say Mr. H — will never 
change, but that is the worst of all: for that would 
be to write rogue on his face, since if I have been mis- 
represented and am unchanged then there is no need 
for him to change if he is good — and your bad thought 
that he will never change towards me is fathered by 
a bad wish in your heart." So spoke I, and I was 
angry, but spoke coolly and slowly, letting him feel 
the force of every word. 

"What wish do you mean," he said, boiling over 
with rage. 

I said, "The wish to get as much of the money as 
you can for yourself. I see that has been your aim 
for a long time; and long ago you conspired with 
A — that he should give H — money, and that you would 
make it pay him and you well. 

"What," he roared, "I conspire with A — to get 
money out of H — ? Take care what you say, sir; it is 
false." 

"Oh, no," I said, "the money was to be got out 
of me ; and what I say is true." 

"How out of you?" he said, looking very uneasy. 

"This way," I replied, "you were heard by one 
whom I can trust to say to A — when Mr. H — needed 
money in Adelaide just after making the will in my 
favor leaving me nearly all, or about 200,000 pounds, 
I say you were heard to say — 'Yes, give him the 
money, give him all he needs, he has made a will in 
John's favor and if he dies, as he thinks he will, I 
will make John drop 20,000 pounds." 

"How dare you say that, you mean, contemptible 
fellow?" he asked when he got voice. 

I answered, " 'Tis not I who am mean and con- 
temptible, but the man who could use such words ; and 

294 



THE PERSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

you cannot deny saying them: for I can produce the 
man who heard them." 

"I do deny saying them," he said. 

"Oh, your answer is a mere quibble," I said; "but 
you used words conveying the same meaning, I am 
sure ; and I tell you more : you hope he will live now, 
and that you and A — can do better without me; A — 
knows he has nothing to hope for now if the money 
should ever come to me, and you fear you won't get 
so much from me, if it does, as you might, and therein 
you are quite right. Hence you are anxious to get 
me out of the way. But I should not wonder if you 
were terribly disappointed yet: for see him I will, if I 
live, when he arrives, and unless he is another man 
than my old friend and brother, he will not allow base- 
less lies to alter his affection and purposes. But he 
can do what he pleases. He is a free agent, and I 
never did aught to bind him, and never will. And 
but for the good it might do in my hands I could 
curse the money, and wish none of it might ever come 
to Australia, and perhaps that will be the end of it: 
for God sees what a curse it has already been to you 
and A — even in anticipation, and what a heart break 
it is to me." 

With these words, or similar, — I have tried faith- 
fully to preserve and record this conversation — I left 
him. That was on Monday forenoon. I am now writ- 
ing these words on Wednesday night. But we have 
never uttered even one word to each other since, al- 
though living in the same house. We, by mutual con- 
sent I suppose, avoid each other; never eat together; 
and in short keep entirely apart. My dear mother 
is most kind and very wise. She sees the trouble is 
too deep for her to meddle, and so she just quietly 
goes about her work, and is very good to me but says 
nothing. Of course this state of affairs is most un- 
natural, and cannot long continue. But I leave it 
with the Lord. He only can put things straight. 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

This only I can say, I did not make them crooked: 
for you know my father has been all my life until 
now the very embodiment of integrity and courage 
to me, and that I relied upon him absolutely. 

Judge, then, how deep my sorrow, my misery, to 
find my idol to melt away when tried, like a snow man 
when the sun shines on it — ay and that man my father, 
whom I had ever honored, and, as far as he had right, 
obeyed. 

My whole nature seems to be torn asunder in this 
trial, and every nerve of body and soul seems to have 
been separately tortured by it — and these words but 
faintly express what I feel and have felt. 

And the worst is, I see no remedy for this in the 
future. Only God and time can heal this sore heart. 
But I am sure your sympathy and love and presence 
here would help me tonight. But, alas, a thousand 
miles divide us. Yet in spirit I am with you always, 
and bending over you now I say ''God bless you, and 
good night ;" and God bless our three little loves for 
ever and ever 

Dearest : after a rather restless night I feel very 
weary, but still am decidedly improving. No one, to 
look at me, would think there was much the matter; 
but it is not the body, but the mind, from which I 
suffer so much. However, I feel I am getting stronger 
daily, and I doubt not that God will restore me to 
you again. I find it so very, very hard to write, and 
it takes me so long: for I have to rest every few lines. 
It seemed to me as if I could not write until I began 
this letter, and God only knows how painful it has 
been for me to write what I have done. 

It has taken me a very long time indeed, and yet 
I have not told you all my sorrow, no, nor the half. 

Had it not been for my awful troubles, I might have 
been further forward in money matters, but I have 
been almost afraid to move about much, too soon: for 
my head has been "shaky" and dizzy with strong 

296 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

rushes of blood to my heart and brain, causing me to 
be very careful. 

I have not quite got over my fainting fit in the 
Baths at Glenelsy ; but I have no doubt I will. 

Of course the worry of thinking about you and 
the children — rent — store — and other accounts — was 
very great; but you will remember that I was nearly 
200 miles from town and ill, and I am sure you won't 
think I could be wilfully careless for one moment. 
It will be a pleasant minute when I send you money. 
I have had one consolation, that my noble friends, 
A — and S — , would stand by you and do their best 
to . g" e t you time and save you worry and help you 
all they could. And then G — 's kind sympathy and 
love were with you, and the joy and comfort of our 
dear little ones, and many kind hearts were sympathiz- 
ing, and many more of our good people were praying, 
and then I was every hour thinking of you, and pray- 
ing God to bless, sustain and comfort you — so I felt 
often comforted in prayer amidst my inexpressible 
loneliness and weariness of heart. 

I close at last in haste not to miss post. Kisses 
and love to the dear children. 

Your ever affectionate husband, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



My Darling Jeanie: 

It is now more than a week since I wrote to you, 
but you must not blame me, dearest, for I have been 
very unwell, and indeed it is only since Saturday night 
that I have known any ease from the pain in my 
head, or had any really refreshing sleep. 

But by God's goodness I now feel so well and 
free from pain, that I can scarcely credit the change. 
I dared not even try to write to you before : for my 
attempt to do so was most distressing in its effects 
upon my head. 

Our dear friends have been most kind and atten- 

297 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

tive to me, and their love and esteem is evidently- 
greater than ever. The harvest has been very poor 
owing to red rust, and as they have been adding to 
their farms by large purchases last year, they find it 
rather hard to pull through this year. I have told 
them well nigh all about our affairs, and they will 
help me all they can, I am sure. I expect in two days 
to know what that is, and will then return to town 
and remit to you all I can. 

I am grateful that my reason and life are yet spared, 
for your dear sakes very largely. 

I love you all very, very dearly, and it is an in- 
creasing trial to part from you for my still contem- 
plated journey to England. But God will help us to 
bear it and to do His blessed will. 

Kindly remember me to S — and A — . I am sure 
they will do their best to help you until I can send. 
Once or twice I feared you would never hear from 
me any more on earth ; but God has been good in spar- 
ing me 

Last night I preached for an old friend at Crystal 
Brook to a crowded chapel — subject, "Peace." Crystal 
Brook is about seven miles from this farm to which I 
have been asked to give a name, and have accordingly 
baptized it "Birnam Wood," from the beautiful scrub 
belt around it; and the romantic name is very much 
appreciated. 

But my head is at it again a little, and I must stop. 
Love, love, love to all. Kisses to my dear little son 
and daughter. 

My darling, for you every prayer and wish is for 
your good, sweet love of my heart, and I shall count 
it long till I embrace you and tell you all I never can 
write. The Lord bless you and all our dear ones al- 
ways. 

Your affectionate husband, 

John Alexander Dowie. 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

My Dear Mrs. M — : 

I return herewith that arch-liar and hypocrite 
H — 's letter to you of June 9, and thank you for your 
kindness in permitting me to copy it. 

The amazing daring of this scoundrel in writing 
such a letter within ten days of his complete exposure 
by your relatives in London, and his confession to the 
detectives, astound me beyond measure. 

However, as he has in his later letter of June 30, 
announced his intention of departing this life, it is 
quite possible that your next letter will be one from 
some of his confederates in this little game, giving 
you a touching account of his pious death. It will be 
interesting to observe the handwriting of that epistle 
should it arrive. I have a perfect recollection of the 
style of writing in the two forged letters of Holding's 
which he placed in my hands — one from New York 
and the other from Washington. Both must have 
been the work of criminal confederates, as must also 
have been the letter forged in your name which he 
showed to Mr. S — . 

Probably he is one of a gang of thieves and 
forgers. 

You will remember that two or three days were e- 
nough to enable him to get the letter forged in your 
name, so that his accomplices could not be far away. 

I confess that the conduct of his relatives appear 
strange to me; and I cannot think they are without 
blame. For instance, his uncle knew where to address 
a telegram to him concerning his sister-in-law's death, 
and, probably, his father and brother also knew where 
he was staying — at a rich gentleman's house — and 
yet, though they knew he was a penniless adventurer 
and thief of a widow's savings in their own neighbor- 
hood, they never say anything until it is too late. 
This does not look well on the face of it. But there 
may be some explanation possible which can free 

299 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

them from blame or guilt. I sincerely hope so. Still, 
the matter looks suspicious until that is given. 

The effect of H — 's heartless deception will be 
felt by you for many a day, and my own suffering 
and loss through him, makes me to feel all the more 
sympathetically for you and your sons. 

To them it is not merely a temporal loss but a 
spiritual danger: for the hypocrisy of the villain was 
one of the most powerful helpers in his nefarious, 
diabolical schemes. But I earnestly trust that they 
will look at this matter in its right light, and see in it, 
not a reason for keeping their hearts from God, but 
an awful reason for fleeing from sin and Satan which, 
this wretched man proves, can tie a soul hand and foot, 
and cast him into a living hell, even on earth. 

I have long believed in demoniacal possession of 
those who give themselves willingly to the service of 
Satan ; and I see in H — a striking confirmation of what 
I see round me every day. "The spirits of devils," 
you will read in Revelation, 16th chapter and 14th verse 
are "to go forth ;" and I am sure they have come, and 
are possessing the hearts of those who are sleeping 
in Zion, and careless about having on their souls the 
spotless robes of Christ's righteousness. 

"Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his gar- 
ments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." 

And to do the opposite is to be cursed, and de- 
ceived by "the spirits of devils." Now, if there is a 
man on God's earth today who has lost his garment, 
who is walking a naked liar in all his vileness, and 
whose shame is seen, it is H — , held and led as he is in 
chains of sin by the Devil at his will. It is an awful 
warning. God have mercy upon that damned soul, 
and though he has made his "bed in hell" may the 
"right hand" of an Omnipotent God of Love draw 
him up out of "the horrible pit," into which his sins 
have cast him. I recall most vividly this afternoon 
the awful terror which used to possess H — whenever 

300 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Spiritualism, against which I was lecturing in July, 
'80, was mentioned. It was remarked at the time, and 
set down to his sensitiveness and weakness. Little did 
I think he was a devil-possessed soul then, and that 
he shrank at his demons' bidding, from contact with 
the subject. I observe the same shrinking from it, in 
others whom I know are not right with the Lord. O 
that the Holy Spirit of God might work mightily upon 
the sin and Satan possessed hearts of men ! It is a 
fearful thing to fall into the hands of living devils ; and 
I do pray that from henceforth we may have discern- 
ing spirits, so as to know more quickly a man of evil 
spirits when he comes to us in any guise. "Beloved," 
(says the Spirit of God in the first epistle of John, 
chapter 4 and verse 1) "believe not every spirit, but 
try the spirits whether they are of God ; because many 
false prophets are gone out into the world." This is 
a most important command. Let us ask from God 
the Spirit of Christ to obey it; no other power can 
give us the victory. I realize that, more and more 
every day I live. 

How foolish we are to forget what our "weapon" 
as Christians is. Look at the epistle to the Ephesians 
(6th chapter and 10th to 12th verses, revised version) 
and you will see to what I refer: "Finally, be strong in 
the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the 
whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand 
against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is 
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, 
against powers, against the world-rulers of this dark- 
ness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the 
heavenly places" — or "in the upper air," as some trans- 
late the words. 

But I fear I am wearying you with too long a 
letter. Its importance is my only apology. May it 
lead you, my dear lady, to rest your whole heart en- 
tirely upon Him who is "mighty to save" from every 
foe in earth or hell. 



301 



THE PERSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

May you all be guided and blessed by God — His 
blessing "maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it," 
and that cannot be said of any other kind of blessing : 
for every rose has a thorn except the Rose of Sharon, 
every crown is a burden except the Crown of Life, 
and every death has a sting except where God gives 
the victory. . . . 



My Dear Madam : 

It has been in my heart for some weeks that I 
should write to you concerning the work of the Lord 
in this city, with a view specially to enlist your 
sympathy, prayers and help in the efforts now being 
put forth by the Salvation Army. But I have been 
deterred by several causes, one of which was my own 
indecision as to my official relations to it, and the 
difficulty, nay, the impossibility, of writing all I would 
wish to say, and of answering the numerous enquiries 
Avhich would very properly arise in your mind con- 
cerning its operations. 

Therefore, I have determined to write and ask 
you if it is convenient and agreeable to you for me 
to visit you on Monday next. If so, it will give me 
pleasure to come and plead the cause of this great 
work, and its claims upon the Lord's stewards, of 
whom you are one. 

I have given between three and four months dili- 
gent study to the history and organization of this mar- 
velous association, and to an active co-operation with 
it in Adelaide. Last night was held the anniversary of 
the formation of the First Adelaide Corps and the 
opening of the second building, "The Salvation Army 
Academy," now occupied by the Army here. 

Eleven souls professed to find peace with God 
through Jesus at the prayer meeting, which makes 
about twenty saved in the last three days. God is 
working mightily amongst us; and I realize His 
Spirit's guidance in my long and wearied detention 

302 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

in Adelaide through business, and the entire break 
up of all my plans of work consequent upon the dis- 
covery that my supposed great benefactor and friend 
— W. G. Q. H — is only a great swindler and hypocrite. 
You were good enough to express the desire to know 
the sequel to what I told you about him in May last, 
and if I have the pleasure of seeing you, I promise 
you a story which is fit to rank in clever audacity with 
the most romantic of swindles, his career in England 
being a most extraordinary series of adventures and 
impostures. 

It has been a most painful and trying experience. 

It is a melancholy satisfaction, however, to know 
that he deceived clever business men of high stand- 
ing in England for months as to his alleged, but really 
mythical, wealth : for it can no longer be said, if it 
ever has been, that he practiced upon most immoderate 
credulity in my case, seeing that for many months he 
lived with persons such as I have referred to without 
detection or suspicion. It has been a most mysterious 
affliction, and productive of much anxiety to me, and 
to many. . . . 



Dear Brother In Christ: 

Enclosed I hand you three clippings from our local 
papers, which are fairly correct reports of the case 
which is of some interest to many of your readers; 
and I shall be glad if you will find room for them in 
your next issue of the Christian Colonist, which I al- 
ways read with much interest. 

You can imagine my surprise to find H — , dressed 
in full Salvation Army uniform, selling all sorts of 
things, with radiant smiles and coaxing words, to ad- 
miring customers, at the Trade Tent of the Salvation 
Army at their Annual Demonstration on the South 
Melbourne Cricket Ground. I had just been convers- 
ing with Commissioner Howard, and after a few words 

303 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

with him again, my long lost, and, according to a fu- 
neral card now in my possession — once deceased, de- 
ceiver, was confronted with me. 

What a change ! Smiles vanished, and fear and 
guilt and shame chased each other over his ash-colored 
face. A few minutes served to make his real character 
so clear that he was at once removed from the Trade 
Tent, and dismissed from the ground. I advised him 
to get away, by sea, as quickly as possible, failing 
which he would certainly be arrested; and I spoke 
earnestly to him in urging him to abandon his miser- 
able course of deceit, and seek God's mercy. And so 
we parted on Friday — New Year's Day. 

But on the following Monday he came to my house, 
looking most unhappy, and said, "I can't go away — I 
want to make a full confession to you, and give my- 
self up to the police, or do whatever you tell me." 
After consideration, and in the presence of witnesses, 
I took down, with many cross questionings, a most ex- 
traordinary story of crimes beginning in 1877, with 
minute details of a band of about thirteen clever as- 
sociates, amongst whom are two solicitors, a doctor, 
and men of various professions. 

These swindlers had offices in New York and other 
parts of America, in Paris and Mentone in France, and 
in Leicester, Bath, and London in England. By their 
aid, fraudulent correspondence and forged legal docu- 
ments, with all sorts of skilful plans for swindling, 
were employed; and H — appears to have only been 
in the outer circle of this long firm of swindlers — as 
they are called by the detectives, who say that it is 
very rarely that they extend their operations to these 
colonies. Long before he came to Australia he had 
helped in some of their villainous schemes; and he 
gives minute details of a funeral in Derbyshire, at 
which he was chief mourner, where the whole thing 
was a sham — stones and packing taking the place of 

304 



THE PEKSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

the supposed corpse. From that and other circum- 
stances, it is evident that they were engaged, amongst 
other things, in Assurance frauds. 

They frequently had a good deal of ready money, 
which they used freely, sometimes renting for a period 
large mansions and estates the owners of which were 
abroad, and from one of these the bogus funeral in 
Derbyshire took place. There are many strange things 
in this story, also, to which I can make no allusions : 
for it is now in progress of investigation by the police, 
and the names of wealthy merchants, manufacturers, 
and even bankers who were deceived would require to 
be given— a proceeding which could only cause pain, 
and defeat the ends of justice. Several times ere it 
happened, he was nearly found out, and when the 
discovery did come he was on the most familiar terms 
of friendship with a large circle of persons of wealth 
and social position in various parts of England, upon 
whom he was most skilfully imposing. One of these, 
a member of a firm, whose name is widely known in 
these colonies, was about to lend him 1500 pounds, and 
I found that he had been making use of the friendly 
letters of that gentleman, in which he somewhat 
pressed the little loan, and regretted he could not make 
it larger just then. These letters were in his pocket 
when he was ignominiously expelled from the house 
of Sir J. S — with whom he had been living for nearly 
six months, with brief intervals. I made him give me 
these letters, and they are now in the hands of the 
detective police. 

On Wednesday, H — came to my house again, by 
appointment, and gave himself up to Detective Ser- 
geant Walsh there, and the same evening he was 
lodged in prison. Two days after, as the appended 
reports show, he confessed his guilt upon a formal 
charge which I had made, and was remanded for 
sentence. 

But a difficulty arose — and it is a practical com- 

305 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

ment upon the need of Federation — , it was found that 
the Courts here had no jurisdiction, since the offense 
had been committed on the other side of the River 
Murray; and, although he had pleaded guilty, and all 
the parties were here, the police magistrate was com- 
pelled to discharge him, unless I would incur the cost, 
time and trouble of going to Sydney to lay an informa- 
tion, get a warrant for his apprehension, wait for a 
writ of extradition, and then remain to go on with 
the prosecution before the police court, there, with a 
probable prospect of having to return to Sydney in a 
month or two to give evidence at this trial before the 
court there. I, therefore, viewing these facts, and 
above all having the conviction that he was really 
penitent before God for his wickedness, declined to 
give any promise that I would go to New South Wales 
and initiate the proceedings afresh there. It was the 
most perplexing position in which to be placed, and 
I believe that I was rightly guided in my decision. 

Will you, then, kindly publish this letter in the 
"Colonist," so that the many sufferers through H — 's 
deceptions in your colony may know the facts con- 
nected with this matter; and, probably, this will be 
reprinted from your columns into some of the papers 
here, and in the colonies of New South Wales, Queens- 
land, Tasmania and New Zealand, for the poor, 
wretched fellow has committed acts of fraud in all of 
the Australian colonies, except Western Australia. 
It is due to my many Christian friends in these lands 
that I should make these explanations; and it may 
possibly put an end to the further circulation of one 
of the numerous falsehoods of my enemies, namely, 
that I received a large sum of money from this ad- 
venturer with which to build a tabernacle in Sydney. 

Strange to say, a Christian brother from Ballarat, 
Mr. Elias Hoskins, was visiting me on the day when 
H — came to make his confession, and at my request, 
he with two others witnessed every word he spoke. 

306 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Afterward Mr. Hoskins told me that only a few days 
before a prominent Christian worker in Ballarat had 
taken him aside, and with shrugs and whispered con- 
fidence had warned him against me, because I had 
never accounted for the 21,000 pounds which I had 
once received by deed of gift to build a church. 

Excuse the length of this letter, and let me add 
that, with the exception of a few words in the Intro- 
duction to my pamphlet on Spiritualism Unmasked, 
published here in 1882, I have made no public explana- 
tions concerning this matter which nearly six years 
ago caused me to break up my home, and leave my 
dear people and work in Sydney, en route for England 
to meet this adventurer, whose letters detained me at 
Adelaide for many months until authentic news 
reached me of his imposture. What I, and mine, have 
suffered and lost through that, God only knows; but 
since His love and mercy have sustained me amidst 
all, I rejoice to have had an opportunity of showing 
mercy to my enemy, and with that act closing this 
page of my life's history. 
I am, 

Ever yours in Jesus, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Dated from the Victoria Coffee House, March 29, 1882— almost 
despairs — suffers for food — ready to die or live — true to the service of 
his Lord.) 

Beloved Wife : 

It is hard and bitter for me to have to write to 
you today; but it would have been impossible for me 
to write to you two days ago. 

Once more, I have to write the discouraging word 
"failed." 

But I live, and God lives, and it cannot be that 
the night will long endure, and that one who strives 
to do His will shall always fail. 

307 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

I will try again in another direction — indeed, I 
am already at it, and will hope on: for there is still 
a guiding Star which shines on through the dark- 
ness, although for one long night I almost doubted 
that. But, when I "saw the star" again, I "rejoiced," 
as did the wise men of old, as did the true sons of God 
in every age, and I am sure it is the "Morning Star." 
Only for this comfort I would die, and I have seemed 
to be near dying many times. It is and has been 
hard to bear; and "my feet were almost gone" into 
ways of doubt, and fear, and sin, and death: for that 
is the way of the backslider and forsaker of his Lord. 
But He kept me. 

Last Friday evening the Executive Committee 
met and decided to make no appointment for the pres- 
ent. 

This was done after Mr. M — , the Secretary, had 
employed every measure to delay a decision, and to 
thwart Dr. S — 's action. He failed to find any means 
of prejudicing the Executive against me directly; but 
he succeeded indirectly at a small meeting, in which 
he got a majority to support him. His point was that 
Dr. S — was thrusting me upon them, and that it was 
taking all power out of their hands, to make his offer 
to raise 100 pounds dependent upon my appointment. 
This was wrought with success upon a majority who 
were attached to him for various reasons. 

But it was a farce : for they had in their letter ex- 
pressed their "deep regret" that they could not comply 
with my "esteemed proposal;" and we were informed 
that the only difficulty was the want of means. 

Dr. S — removed that, by guaranteeing the first 
quarter of my salary for a year at 400 pounds ; and this 
then brought out Mr. M — in his true colors. He feared 
loss of prestige and of position, and determined to re- 
sist the proposal. He tried to weary me out and dis- 
gust me by delaying a meeting and, when that failed, 
he excited the unworthy and unfounded prejudice 

308 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

against Dr. S — , to which I have referred. It may work 
his own undoing yet; but at present it has prevented 
my appointment. 

It is a miserable story and another instance of the 
fact that in Australia the Temperance cause is hind- 
ered by ignorant, mean, incompetent men, who cannot 
lead themselves, but are strong enough to hinder 
others; so, apart from all personal considerations, a 
most deplorable position and, in consequence, the 
liquor traffic is becoming daily stronger, the laws 
which have been passed to restrain it, such as the 
Sunday Closing Act, are openly defied, and vice, crime, 
disease and pauperism are increasing in most alarm- 
ing proportions. This traffic stands in the way of all 
progress, and yet the churches are almost entirely in- 
active, and the Temperance workers are a miserable, 
disunited rabble, envious of each other, and not true 
to the cause, so far as organized effort against the 
drink traffic is concerned. Oh, the sad, heart-rend- 
ing scenes of misery which I have seen ! They would 
wring your heart and horrify your soul. Yet the 
scenes are but the story of ten thousand homes. 

Oh, it has been a weary time for me, since last I 
saw your face. Alone in this great, cold city, I have 
spent some of the most sorrowful hours of my life. 
Anxiety concerning you and my dear ones, who are so 
near my heart; fears for the future of this uncertain 
life; doubts as to the past; questionings as to why 
God was permitting these fiery trials ; strugglings with 
the dire realities of the present, with its poverty, 
weakness, my growing shabbiness, and ofttimes posi- 
tive hunger — all these, and more, have been my com- 
panions day and night for months. Do you remem- 
ber the date when I told you I had 6d left to face the 
week with ? It was more than a fortnight ago, I think. 

Well, when it was spent, I did not have a penny 
until yesterday. I made up my mind that I would die, 

309 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

rather than ask Mr. D — or any one for money help 
again, and I just lived upon what I ate at the house 
of Dr. T — when he invited me there, and at that of 
Mr. C — , a Christian bookseller with whom I am well 
acquainted. I did not average one meal per day up 
to yesterday, and sometimes I have gone forty-eight 
hours without breaking my fast — on one occasion, I 
had only one meal, tea, for seventy-two hours. But 
I did not cease to pray for deliverance, and watch for 
an opportunity of doing something to earn money. I 
was asked to write something for printing, which I 
did, and yesterday I received 5 pounds from the gentle- 
man to whom I read the MS and it is to be printed at 
his expense very soon. I am to get, by and by, a little 
more money from it. This money was God's direct 
gift: for I did not tell this gentleman my necessity, 
although I intended doing so at the last extremity. 
But I did not need to do so. He gave it to me without 
a single word from me, in the nicest way. It seemed 
a little fortune to me, after my distress, and I praised 
and "thanked God and took courage." I had to pay 
away at once a large portion of it on account of what 
I owe the manager of this place for my lodging; 
which should have been paid in advance, which is the 
rule. 

So that I saved very little of the money; but I 
shall be very careful with it and watch for ways of 
getting more. I am a good deal thinner, a little paler, 
and there are a few more gray hairs in my head, but 
this is no doubt due to my fasting, added to my sad 
thoughts and disappointments. But I do not think any 
permanent injury has resulted. 

Do not let this trouble you, I beseech you. The 
Lord will not suffer me to be tempted beyond my 
strength. 

Oh, for the end of all this sense of pain and sin in 
this false and cruel world which Satan rules! .... 



310 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

The Church of today is as unlike Christ's example 
as it was eighteen hundred years ago when it crucified 
Him. Perhaps we may be nearer "the midnight" than 
we have hitherto believed ; and it may be we shall soon 
hear the cry at midnight, "Behold, the bridegroom 
cometh : go ye out to meet Him I" Let us be ready. 
Let us keep our light burning, our lives shining for 
the Lord and filled with all the fullness of God's 
Spirit. 

Do not let us be found slumbering and sleeping, 
when the "Cry" comes, with "lamps gone out," as 
also seems to be the case with many whom we love^ 
who have a name to live and are dead, and who mock 
me in their folly, because I love and serve the Lord. 

Oh, what an awakening it will be for them should 
Jesus come now, and find their hearts empty of love 
to Him, and their lives dark and cold, like burnt out 
lamps. I feel as if I wanted to warn and entreat them all 
to awaken out of their sleep lest they should awaken 
only to find it "too late," and they shut outside the gate. 
I do pray for them all, from my heart: but I feel I 
should do more. Oh, it is terrible to think of the 
long night, the darkness, the sighing and gnashing of 
teeth, the company of the damned who have sat down 
not having on the wedding garment, and to think that 
many of our friends will be bound hand and foot and 
cast out there. I know God's mercy never dies, and 
that He will receive at the end all unto Himself. But 
oh, what long and weary ways amidst the torments 
and fears of an existence where they continue to de- 
ceive and enslave their souls in the service of Satan 
as they did on earth. My heart is sad and sorrowful 
when I think of it; and I only hope that they may 
really be converted ere it is "too late :" for the night 
cometh, and the last storm may soon rage around us 
which will prove if our souls are built upon the Rock 
and our names written in the Book of Life 

God knows me, and he knows (despite many short- 

311 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

comings, mistakes and sins which He has pardoned) 
that I am true to the service of my Lord and Saviour, 
and true in my love to every soul of man, for every one 
of which He tasted death. 

. . . And now — "Be of good cheer:" it is the Lord 
who calls me on; and I will follow Him wherever He 
doth lead. If it be for His glory and your good, may 
He spare me yet awhile. 

I do not fear either for you. dear ones, or myself, 
should the Lord call me hence by His sweet messen- 
ger, Death, who but opens, like a porter, the gate of the 
City of God : for He who in His wisdom takes me, will 
care for you, better than if I lived. 

"Be of good cheer:" for the morning is coming of 
the endless day. I do not fear to live : for life can have 
no bitterer cups in store, or if there are, then His love 
will sweeten them, since I can trust Him now more 
fully than ever, and can say: "I am persuaded that 
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, 
nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor 
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able 
to separate me from the love of God : which is in Christ 
Jesus our Lord." 

"Be of good cheer." I am not ill, or apprehensive 
of any immediate danger to my life. But I am want- 
ing to be more than ever "ready" either to die or live. 

I have sent by this post two beautiful cards, which 
I got from my friend Mr. C — this morning. 

One is for all the children. It is an Easter card. 

I have addressed it to Gladdy ; but he is to give it to 
you to keep. You will tell him about the Resurrec- 
tion to which it refers — first to Christ, and then to us 
through Him, the Ressurrection and the Life. The 
other, with all the cupids, is for you. 

All these sweet angels are but emblems of the 
sweet thoughts of love for you in my heart. Gladdy 
may look at it, but must not soil it, for I want mother to 
keep it. 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Tell the dear little fellow to keep on praying to God 
to send the money to father to bring you here, and to 
ask until He does. 

Give him many kisses, and say I will write him an- 
other letter soon. Say father wrote him to be very 
obedient and to grow up a good little son, and please 
God, and be like Jesus, as far as he can. Tell him 
father prays very often every day for him, and wants 
him to be always happy and good. He is much in my 
thoughts and prayers. 

I have answered Mr. McD — . I did not like your 
comments concerning his letter. But I say no more. 
Send any letters you receive to me without any com- 
ment. I bear these burdens. They are quite heavy 
enough. Do not add to them by inconsiderate words. 
I am sorry to the heart about the matter; but they 
know as much as you do as to how things have gone, 
and did before I left Adelaide. I am doing in all things 
the best I can — an angel cannot do more. God is my 
judge, not any man or woman. I have learned this 
lesson, at great cost ; but it is worth all the price : 
"Wisdom is justified of all her children." 

Kiss my sweet little "angel," and tell her all kinds 
of sweet things from father. I dreamt about her this 
morning just before waking. She was smiling at me, 
and holding out her arms for me to take her, and I 
did so with gladness, and awoke laughing. I am 
grateful to your mother for taking her to Dr. Henry. 
I am sure it is general weakness, from that first loss 
of blood soon after her birth ; and it will only be 
time and care that can restore her, if indeed she is 
to stay with us : for she is ever to me "my angel" 
Jeanie. 

Kiss the darling "Queen" for father. The sweet 
little "mystery" is very dear .to me; and I long to 
have you all around me in a home, if it be God's will, 
once more. 



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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

Still, I say from my heart, "Thy will, not mine, 
be done." 

And now I close. The night is far spent, and I 
am getting tired. Pray for me, with increasing faith. 

"Faint not at my tribulation." God will show you 
yet it is "your glory." The Lord ever bless and keep 
you. . . 



(Story of /ion> he came to preach Divine healing — later published in 
tract form — although it -was not until six years later — 1884 — that he 
entered fully upon that ministry).) 

.... I sat in my study in the parsonage of the Con- 
gregational Church, at Newtown, a suburb of the beau- 
tiful city of Sydney, Australia. My heart was very 
heavy, for I had been visiting the sick and dying beds 
of more than thirty of my flock, and I had cast the 
dust to its kindred dust into more than forty graves 
within a few weeks. Where, oh where was He who 
used to heal His suffering children? No prayer for 
healing seemed to reach His ear, and yet I knew His 
hand had not been shortened. Still it did not save 
from death even those for whom there was so much 
in life to live for God and others. Strong men, fathers, 
good citizens, and more than all, true faithful Christ- 
ians sickened with a putrid fever, suffered nameless 
agonies, passed into delirium, sometimes with con- 
vulsions, and then died. And oh, what aching voids 
were left in many a widowed orphaned heart. Then 
there were many homes where, one by one, the little 
children, the youths and the maidens were stricken, 
and after hard struggling with the foul disease, they 
too, lay cold and dead. It seemed sometimes as if I 
could almost hear the triumphant mockery of fiends 
ringing in my ear whilst I spoke to the bereaved ones 
the words of Christian hope and consolation. Disease, 
the foul offspring of its father, Satan, and its mother, 
Sin, was defiling and destroying the earthly temples of 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

God's children, and there was no deliverer. 

And there I sat with sorrow-bowed head for my af- 
flicted people, until the bitter tears came to relieve my 
burning heart. Then I prayed for some message, and 
oh, how I longed to hear some words from Him who 
wept and sorrowed for the suffering long ago, the Man 
of Sorrows and of Sympathies. And then the words of 
the Holy Ghost inspired in Acts 10: 38 stood before 
me all radiant with light, revealing Satan as the De- 
filer and Christ as the Healer. My tears were wiped 
away, my heart was strong, I saw the way of healing, 
and the door thereto was opened wide, and so I said, 
"God help me now to preach that word to all the dy- 
ing round, and tell them how 'tis Satan still defiles, 
and Jesus still delivers, for 'He is just the same to- 
day.' " 

A loud ring and several loud raps at the outer door, 
a rush of feet, and then at my door two panting mes- 
sengers who said, "Oh, come at once, Mary is dying; 
come and pray." With just such a feeling as a shep- 
herd has who hears that his sheep are being torn from 
the fold by a cruel wolf, I rushed from my house, ran 
hatless down the street, and entered the room of the 
dying maiden. There she lay groaning, grinding her 
clenched teeth in the agony of the conflict with the de- 
stroyer, the white froth, mingled with her blood, ooz- 
ing from her pain-distorted mouth. I looked at her 
and then my anger burned. "Oh," I thought, "for 
some sharp sword of heavenly temper keen to slay 
this cruel foe who is strangling that lovely maiden 
like an invisible serpent, tightening his deadly coils 
for a final victory." 

In a strange way it came to pass ; I found the sword 
I needed was in my hands, and in my hand I hold it 
still, and never will I lay it down. The doctor, a good 
Christian man, was quietly walking up and down the 
room, sharing the mother's pain and grief. Presently 
he stood at my side and said, "Sir, are not God's ways 

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THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

mysterious ?" Instantly the sword was flashing in my 
hand, — the Spirit's Sword, the Word of God. "God's 
way !" I said, pointing to the scene of conflict, "how 
dare you, Dr. K — , call that God's way of bringing 
His children home from earth to Heaven? No, sir, 
that is the devil's work, and it is time we called on 
Him who came to "destroy the work of the devil," to 
slay that deadly foul destroyer, and to save the child. 
Can you pray, Doctor, can you pray the prayer of faith 
that saves the sick?" At once, offended at my words, 
my friend was changed, and saying, "You are too 
much excited, sir, 'tis best to say 'God's will be done/ " 
he left the room. Excited ! The word was quite in- 
adequate for I was almost frenzied with Divinely im- 
parted anger and hatred of that foul destroyer. Dis- 
ease, which was doing Satan's will. "It is not so," I 
exclaimed, "no will of God sends such cruelty, and I 
shall never say 'God's will be done' to Satan's works, 
which God's own Son came to destroy, and this is one 
of them." Oh, how the Word of God was burning in 
my heart : "Jesus of Nazareth went about doing good, 
and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for 
God was with him". And was not God with me? and 
was not Jesus there and all His promises true? I felt 
that it was even so, and turning to the mother I in- 
quired,, "Why did you send for me?" To which she 
answered, "Do pray, oh pray for her that God may 
raise up." And so we prayed. What did I say? It 
may be that I cannot now recall the words without 
mistake, but words are in themselves of small import- 
ance. The prayer of faith may be a voiceless prayer, 
a simple heartfelt look of confidence into the face of 
Christ. At such a moment words are few, but they 
mean much, for God is looking at the heart. Still, 
I can remember much of that prayer unto this day, and 
asking God to aid I will endeavor to recall it. I cried : 
"Our Father, help ! and Holy Spirit, teach me how 
to pray. Plead Thou for us, oh, Jesus, Saviour, Heal- 

316 



THE PEBSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

er, Friend, our Advocate with God the Father. Hear 
and heal, Eternal one! From all disease and death de- 
liver this sweet child of Thine. I rest upon the Word. 
We claim the promise now. The word is true, 'I am 
the Lord that healeth thee.' Then heal her now. The 
word is true, 'I am the Lord, I change not.' Unchang- 
ing God, then prove Thyself the Healer now. The 
word is true, 'These signs shall follow them that believe 
in My Name, they shall lay hands on the sick, and they 
shall recover.' And I believe, and I lay hands in Jesus' 
name on her, and claim this promise now. Thy word 
is true, 'the prayer of faith shall save the sick.' Trust- 
ing in Thee alone, I cry, oh, save her now, for Jesus' 
sake, Amen !" 

And, lo, the maid lay still in sleep, so deep and 
sweet that the mother said in a low whisper, "Is she 
dead?" "No," I answered in a whisper lower still, 
"Mary will live, the fever has gone. She is perfectly 
well and sleeping as an infant sleeps." Smoothing 
the long dark hair from her now peaceful brow, and 
feeling the steady pulsation of her heart and cool, 
moist hands, I saw that Christ had heard and that once 
more, as long ago in Peter's house, "He touched her 
and the fever left her." Turning to the nurse I said, 
"Get me at once, please, a cup of cocoa and several 
slices of bread and butter." Beside the sleeping maid 
we sat quietly and almost silently until the nurse re- 
turned, and then I bent over her and snapping my fin- 
gers said, "Mary!" Instantly she woke, smiled and 
said, "Oh, sir, when did you come? I have slept so 
long;" then stretching out her arms to meet her moth- 
er's embrace, she said, "Mother, I feel so well." "And 
hungry, too?" I said, pouring some of the cocoa in a 
saucer and offering it to her when cooled by my breath. 
"Yes, hungry too," she answered with a little laugh, 
and drank and ate again, and yet again, until all was 
gone. In a few minutes she fell asleep, breathing 
easily and softly. Quietly thanking God we left her 

317 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

bed and went to the next room where her brother and 
sister also lay sick of the same fever. With these 
two we also prayed, and they were healed. The fol- 
lowing day all three were well and in a week or so they 
brought to me a little letter and a little gift of gold, 
two sleeve links with my monogram, which I wore for 
many years. As I went away from the home where 
Christ as the Healer had been victorious,I could not but 
have somewhat in my heart of the triumphant song that 
rang through Heaven, and yet I was not a little amazed 
at my own strange doings, and still more at my dis- 
covery that HE IS JUST THE SAME TO-DAY. 

And this is the story of how I came to preach the 
Gospel of Healing through Faith in Jesus. 



(Written Nov. 9, 1885— tells of the death of his little daughter, 
Jeanie.) 

Beloved Friend: 

Again I have stood over the open grave, and laid 
aside the earthly garments of my little "Angel," whose 
spirit quietly stole away just as the day was dawning 
on Lord's Day morning last. I can scarcely realize 
it yet: for it was so sudden and unexpected; but I 
bow, with my dear wife, in resignation, though in 
grief, and say "It is the Lord, let Him do what 
seemeth Him good." 

When we returned this day week from Sydney, we 
found Gladdy almost entirely recovered, and our two 
little daughters apparently well — our little Jeanie — the 
"Angel" — being especially delighted to see us, clasp- 
ing us around the neck and kissing us again and again. 
The following day, Friday, she was toddling about 
the house, stronger, as we thought, than ever we had 
seen her, and our hearts were glad to look upon her 
sweet, pure face and happy smile. That evening, how- 
ever, we noticed one or two little spots which looked 
like measles on her face, and the following day, Satur- 

318 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

day, she slept a good deal — it was a very hot day. 

In the evening she seemed very bright, and when 
I came in to tea I found her sitting on our maid's 
lap being fed. I lit the gas in the dining room, as it 
was getting dark, and when I did so she laughed and 
clapped her little hands together. 

I said, "You dear little Angel, father is so glad 
to see you bright and happy ;" upon which she looked 
up into Ettie's face and smiled. We then sat down 
to tea and had scarcely commenced, when Mrs. 
Dowie, who was sitting near her, said, "Come here, 
John, and look at Jeanie's eyes." I immediately went 
over, and saw she was insensible and in a fit. I took 
her up at once, and besought the Lord for her; but 
she was by that time in strong convulsions. I then 
carried her into her own room, and kneeling down 
with her alone, besought the Lord again for her that 
the fit might cease ; and it seemed almost as if a voice 
replied, "Yes, the fit will cease; but the Lord will 
take her now." 

I then called Mrs. Dowie, and told her of the 
answer, and shortly after the fit did cease, and our 
little pet lay utterly exhausted. To avoid an inquest, 
I sent for a neighboring doctor, who took the same 
view as myself, namely, that there was an effusion 
on the brain, and no hope of her recovery. From that 
hour she slept, opening her eyes at intervals in re- 
sponse to our loving words, and at times breathing 
heavily, but entirely without pain. About four 
o'clock on Lord's Day morning, the end came, and, 
opening her eyes wide, she looked, oh, so beautifully, 
upon the faces of the unseen angels, and, without a 
sigh, her sweet spirit went away with them to dwell 
forever with the Lord. The daylight saw only a 
beautiful, white, marble-like form lying with closed 
eyes, and hands gently folded on her breast, and a 
look of holy peace upon her little face, which looked 
so calm, with the dark hair parted from her placid, 

319 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

broad brow. Ere the Sabbath songs of earth swelled 
from shore to shore, she was singing above in the 
presence of the King, where there is no night, but one 
endless day. 

Earth has one angel less, but heaven one more, 
since last Lord's Day. Our home has lost its purest, 
holiest child — our hearts are torn and bleeding — light 
has gone, in some degree, from everything around — 
but heaven is nearer, Christ is nearer, and our dar- 
ling has gone where we shall one day go — often I care 
not how soon — and we shall meet her there, with all 
our loved ones gone before, and never, never part 
again. We know where to find her, and, although 
we weep, we rejoice : for it is well with the child. 

Although I had not slept, I went through all the 
work of the Lord's Day, preaching in the morning 
from 2 Samuel, 12:23 — "But now she is dead, where- 
fore should I fast? Can I bring her back again? I 
shall go to her; but she shall not return to me." How 
I preached I cannot tell, except that it was often with 
tears streaming from my eyes; but I did, and God 
blessed the word. In the evening I went out into 
the open air with our workers; and afterwards 
preached to a large audience. 

Many remained to the after meeting, and I am sure 
we shall see good fruits. But the evening "Herald," 
an organ of the liquor dealers, attacks me every issue 
since for my utterances, and gives utterly false reports 
of what I said. Two leading articles and many para- 
graphs have appeared in its columns this week. It 
first invents a lie and then proceeds to comment upon 
it as an accepted fact. Its object, of course, is to 
render me ridiculous and unpopular; but it does not 
succeed in really injuring me permanently, although 
it gives many who never saw me false impressions. 

But all this draws me nearer to Him who "was 
despised and rejected" when He taught and wrought 
the will of God on earth — and I rejoice to be counted 

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THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

worthy to suffer for Him and with Him. This city 
is in an awful condition of open and secret depravity ; 
and there are few bold or faithful enough to speak out 
in God's name. 

The anger and hatred of the patrons of the Cup 
against me for calling it "The Cup of Death" is very 
great, so much so that I am sure my life is often in 
real danger from the infuriated, maddened men who 
are Satan's tools in this city. 

But "none of these things move me;" for doing 
God's will is more than life to me. Last night there 
were violent knocks and then stones thrown at our 
front door, and when I went to the door the persons 
who had done it stood a little distance off, and shouted 
forth a volley of oaths and threats and obscene curses 
and then ran away as I moved towards them. It 
was late, then; but my duty took me out a half an 
hour later, and I went unhesitatingly and without 
fear. Do not be surprised if you should hear some 
morning, that like Faithful in "Vanity Fair" the Lord 
has honoured me by permitting me to seal my testi- 
mony with my blood, and be taken up, as Bunyan 
took "the nearest way to the Celestial Gate." But 
there is much good work to do here; and if it be 
God's will, I want to stay and do what I can to spread 
the Gospel of saving, healing, and sanctifying power 
and love, through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord. 

The books arrived quite safely, and are now in 
the cases in the room where I am now writing. They 
are like the faces of long absent friends, and although 
I have not been able to open them and let them 
pour out their treasures of wisdom and knowledge 
to any extent yet, still they have been useful already, 
and are likely to be still more so in days to come. 
There are a few missing which have possibly got 
mixed with yours, and one especially, a little black 
book of about four inches by three bound in leather. 

11 

321 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

entitled "Vetus Testamentum Cum Apoc. Graece" — 
i. e. The Old Testament, with the Apocrypha, in 
Greek. It is a little volume which, for many reasons, 
I much value — I purchased it in Adelaide thirteen 
3 r ears ago. Our late visit has drawn out our hearts 
very much to our Sydney friends, and there are times 
when we could wish it was our earthly home again. 
But God appoints our habitation and our work, and 
where the Spirit leads we desire only to follow. 

"So with my God to guide my way 

'Tis equal joy to go or stay." 
And now, beloved friend, on the eve of the Lord's 
Day I close this letter. Let God comfort thee; for 
the Holy Spirit is the Comforter. "As thy days, so 
shall thy strength be. . . The Eternal God is thy 
refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." I 
and my dear wife can, and do, sympathize with you 
more than ever, — we have both new treasures in 
heaven : Let us go forward and upward — we'll soon 
all meet again in the happy home above. . . . 



(Memo made by himself regarding the case Cameron v. Doroie — 
tried in Fitzroy Police Court, April 20, 1885, for violation of bye-lam 
prohibiting street preaching, and of which he v>as found guilty, fined, 
and suffered imprisonment for thirty-four days — receiving unconditional 
release by governor.) 

Before the case was tried, Mr. Marsden, one of 
the oldest local magistrates, stated that he was con- 
scientiously convinced that I was right in conducting 
religious processions in the streets, and that the Bye- 
law I was charged with breaking was ultra vires, and 
contrary to the fundamental British principles of civil 
and religious liberty. He offered, therefore, to the 
solicitor for the plaintiff (Mr. Lewis) that he would 
retire, if he wished. Mr. Lewis said that he thought 
Mr. Marsden's position was akin to that of a juryman 
who had a bias in, or had already prejudged, a case. 
Thereupon, Air. Marsden said he would not take any 

322 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

part in it, and sat aside. 

The case was tried before four magistrates, Messrs. 
Robb, (chairman) Cowie, Rowe, and Best. 

The Town Clerk and Mayor having given formal 
evidence as to Bye-laws, and no permission having been 
asked or obtained, I, in cross examination, elicited from 
both the fact that I had on Tuesday evening, March 3, 
attended a meeting of the Council at which I had shown 
cause why the Bye-law should not be confirmed, and 
had declared that, as I conscientiously believed it to 
be ultra vires, and a direct infringment of my civil 
rights, and an attack upon my religious liberty and 
conviction of duty, it would, in the event of its passing, 
become my duty, and that of many others, to meet it 
"with the most determined passive resistance" within 
our power. 

The plaintiff (a constable named Cameron) then 
proved the alleged offence, and admitted that the pro- 
cession was orderly and caused no obstruction to traf- 
fic, nor had he ever seen or heard of any of our pro- 
cessions being otherwise. 

Mr. Lewis (plaintiff's solicitor) then said that was 
his case; and resting upon the decisions in the cases 
of Rider V. Phillips, and Bannon V. Barker, (Law Re- 
ports for 1884) he claimed that the magistrates must 
uphold the violation of the Bye-law, and fine me ac- 
cordingly. 

I then called Mr. Robt. Smith, as a witness, simply 
to prove that the procession was orderly, and produc- 
tive of no obstruction, or disorder. 

I then endeavored to address the Bench for the de- 
fense, and had scarcely begun when a Mr. Lyons, solici- 
tor, rose, and in a most insulting manner interrupted 
me, and addressed the Bench, and asked them whether 
I was to be allowed to preach there, etc. Mr. Lewis 
(plaintiff's solicitor) protested against the interrup- 
tion, and demanded that I should be heard. 

Somewhat ungraciously, the Bench concurred, and 

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THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

I proceeded to show (1) that I was exercising what 
I believed to be my rights to the use of the common 
highways ; (2) that I did that in an admittedly orderly 
way; (3) that I did so not for any private gain, nor 
from any wilful desire to come into collision with the 
municipal authorities, but to do good to my fellow 
men, in obedience to distinct commands of Scripture 
(See Luke 14:21, Mark 16 etc); (4) that I had done 
so in this city for more than two years previously with- 
out interference or complaint; and that, for more than 
thirty years, I had taken part in similar work, in many 
parts of Great Britain and the Australian colonies ; (5) 
that the Bye-law, therefore, had created a crime, of that 
which had never been attempted to be shown to be a 
crime; and (6) that for reasons which I would then 
give, I held the Bye-law to be ultra vires. 

Here I was again interrupted by Mr. Lyons; and I 
again claimed the protection of the Bench, who were 
most evidently not in sympathy with me. 

The chairman here said that it was not within their 
power to hold the Bye-law to be ultra vires, in the face 
of the decision quoted by the plaintiff's solicitor. 

I contended it was within their power to do so, if 
I was fortunate enough to convince them by the argu- 
ments that I was about to adduce — and I went on to 
say that Lord Chief Justice Coleridge had decided upon 
appeal from the magistrates of Hastings, England, that 
a similar Bye-law was ultra vires; that the Hon. W. B. 
Dalley, Attorney General of New So. Wales, had last 
year given a similar opinion, in consequence of which 
religious street processions are, at the present moment, 
protected in Sydney, Newcastle etc., and that recently, 
the Court of Appeal, in Adelaide, South Australia, had 
upon appeal from the magistrates of Kapunda and 
Strathalbyn decided that similar Bye-laws in these 
municipalities were ultra vires. 

Mr. Best here blurted out, in a most angry man- 
ner, that I had broken the law, and must be punished, 

324 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

or words to that effect, and the other members of the 
Court, who seemed to take no notice of what I was 
saying, but were excitedly conversing, seemed to be 
ready to concur with their colleague. 

I endeavoured in vain to proceed with my argu- 
ment, which was making no impression upon, and re- 
ceiving no attention from, the rude and angry persons 
on the Bench ; and, therefore, I said that if they had 
made up their minds to inflict a fine, I would ask them 
to fix it at a sum sufficiently large (plaintiff's solicitor 
had only asked for a small penalty) to enable me to 
appeal to the Supreme Court of this colony, from 
which, if unsuccessful, I would endeavour to carry 
it to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Great Britain. 

The Chairman immediately said they were unani- 
mous in upholding the Bye-law, and in finding me 
guilty of having broken it, and would fine me L5 :5 : — 

Mr. Lewis applied for L3 :3 : — costs, which sum was 
granted. 

I said — "That is an additional wrong. I give no- 
tice that I will appeal." 



(Sept. 2, 1885 — tells of attempt to T»rec\ Tabernacle — narrowly 
escapes death — has premonition of danger.) 

Dear Brother in Christ: 

Your usual weekly note duly received this morn- 
ing, just as I was about to go out for our day's work 
in the Healing Room. I praise God for His goodness 
to the brother restored in the Home and for the 
grace given to you all who are promoting the Gospel 
of Healing and Holiness, through Jesus only, in Bal- 
larat. Kindly greet them all in love from Mrs. Dowie 
and myself. 

When we reached the Tabernacle this morning we 
found that, by God's mercy, I had narrowly escaped 
being seriously injured, or killed, by a dynamite ex- 
plosion which happened shortly after I left last night. 

325 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWTE 

The explosion was heard by many living around, 
about 10:30, and many came out of their houses, 
amongst them the Fire Brigade people near; but see- 
ing no fire or smoke they could not tell where it had 
happened. When our caretaker opened the place for 
the meetings today she found my room a wreck. 

The flooring boards beneath had been broken and 
had smashed in the drawer of my writing table; my 
chair had been thrown up to the roof and was lying 
with the other chairs in a confused heap ; and had 

I been sitting there, it is very likely I would have 
been in heaven ere this. The side walls were partly 
blown out, some of the planks being broken into small 
fragments, and generally the room is damaged through- 
out, the window sill being partly torn out. It was 
my intention to have remained in my room until past 

II with candidates for fellowship; but about quarter 
to ten, I asked four who were waiting if it would be 
equally convenient to see me this evening, and as 
they said "yes," I went home, for I felt weary — an 
unprecedented thing for me to do. 

All day, however, I had felt the shadow of death 
around me, and I had actually filled up, for the first 
time in my life, a proposal for Life Assurance, telling 
Mrs. Dowie that I felt well but had a feeling that I 
would at some time, perhaps soon, be called away 
suddenly. 

So you see the Devil is busy, and wants to kill 
us outright by violence, failing his being able to 
cover us with disease. "But none of these things move 
me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that 
I might finish my course with joy, and ministry, which 
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the 
Gospel of the grace of God." 

He has cast us into prison, and now he would 
kill us; but we cannot fear: for to us "to live is 
Christ, and to die is gain." But for my dear ones' 
sake, for my dear people, and for the work's sake, I 

326 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

am glad the Lord delivered me on this occasion. 

The police and detectives, under Inspector Brown, 
have been working at the case all day, they have 
found remnants of dynamite cartridges and they have 
some clues as to the perpetrators of the outrage. 

Of course this broke up our Healing meetings 
today: for which I was sorry, as I understand many 
came from long distances; but doubtless I shall see 
them again, or rather, if the Lord be willing, I shall. 

Ask all the friends to pray for us. We shall, the 
Lord willing, go to Sydney for two or three weeks 
about 21st inst., and we hope to proclaim the Lord 
as Healer there. ... 



{Sept. 6, 1886 — protests against linking the doctrine of Divine healing 
rvith Spiritualism, Mind cures, etc.) 

Dear Brother in Christ: 

I very much deplore the article in your issue of 
27th ult., entitled "Mind Healing," based on Dr. Buck- 
ley's article in the Century for June last: and I am 
sure the day is not far distant when its writer, who- 
ever he may be, will deeply deplore the evil which 
it will work. 

Dr. Buckley errs "not knowing the Scriptures nor 
the power of God," as I will, God helping me, en- 
deavour to make plain in a pamphlet which I intend 
to write during this month, before starting upon a 
tour of Divine Healing Missions in New South Wales, 
New Zealand, and Tasmania. 

I therefore write simply to enter my public pro- 
test against linking the Christian doctrine of heal- 
ing by the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus, with 
the diabolical performances of evil men and evil 
spirits, who today, as in apostolic times, worked mir- 
acles and deceived mankind. 

The design of Satan has ever been to destroy be- 
lief in the reality and Divine nature of Christ's work, 

327 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

by producing diabolical counterfeits ; and that Mother 
of Harlots, the Roman Church, has manifested its 
Satanic character by joining hands with its sister im- 
postor, Modern Spiritualism, in showing mysterious 
power, and signs, and lying wonders. It ill become Pro- 
testants and evangelical Christians to confound the 
permanent "gifts of healing in the one Spirit" which 
our Lord promised to give His true Church with the 
magnetic, mesmeric, and psychopathic mockeries of 
ancient and modern heathenism, by whatever name 
that heathenism may be disguised. I do not write, 
like Dr. Buckley, who boasts of his skill in making 
people fools ; and seriously injuring them, by the way, 
in the process, as his article abundantly proves. He 
is a confessed practical mesmerizer: and I have the 
greatest horror and detestation of such practices, 
knowing that they are injurious to all concerned, and 
are always the primary methods adopted by "seducing 
spirits" in leading many to "fall away from the faith," 
giving to Paul's prophecy a very practical fulfillment. 

But I write as one whom the Lord has used for 
four years in the Ministry of Healing, and for nearly 
twenty years in the Ministry of Salvation through 
faith in Jesus. I know in Whom I have believed, and 
that all who have been healed, and they number many 
hundreds to my certain knowledge, like all who have 
been saved, and I believe these number thousands in 
Great Britain and Australia, were healed and saved 
by grace through faith in Him of whom it is written, 
"The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and 
with His stripes we are healed." 

This testimony of practical experience, added to 
the published public testimony of large numbers of 
persons, such as those you published in your issue of 
February 26, of this year, ought to go for something 
as against the mere assertions of Dr. Buckley's article, 
and the "Mind Healing" echo of it in your columns. 
Besides, the whole world is full of living, rejoicing 

328 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

witnesses to the power and willingness of Jesus as 
an unchangeable Healer of "them who believe" for 
healing. It will take something more than sneers to 
convince these that they are suffering from "imagin- 
ations," or, as he also puts it, from "abberations of the 
imagination." People don't imagine cancers and 
blindness, and we can supply many very tangible facts 
of instantaneous, perfect, and permanent healings 
which no one has ever disputed in this city. But alas 
for truth, men like Dr. Buckley are ready to admit 
every explanation for phenomena, except that of 
Divine intervention, and no facts or reasonings from 
my standpoint are ever likely to affect them, until 
they bow to the supremacy of the Holy Spirit in their 
warped and blinded intellects, where a false conceit 
reigns to the exclusion of all else. 

I promise him and all who attack God's truth, and 
want to link me by a scientific chain, as he does, with 
Mormons, Spiritualists, Mind-curers, Roman Catholics, 
and Magnetizers, that I will do my best to repudiate 
and disprove the alliance, which would be as repug- 
nant to my vows of loyality to Christ, as the practices 
of these enemies of God are to my experience. 

One thing I imagine even my bitterest critics will 
admit is, that his charge that belief in what he calls 
"faith-healing" produces an "effeminate type of char- 
acter which shrinks from any pain and concentrates 
attention upon self and its sensations" is not true 
in the case of myself or my people; for, by the grace 
of God, we have been able to make the opposite toler- 
ably plain to all who know us, and who know our past 
and present modes of "fighting the good fight of faith." 
I do not reckon that the press of Melbourne, or the 
publicans of Victoria, would sum us up as "effeminate," 
or "selfish" types of character, and the records of Mel- 
bourne Gaol where we suffered for obeying Christ can 
tell another tale. 

If I write warmly it is because I feel warmly the 

329 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

insult and wrong - which links me to Christ's enemies, 
and brands me as an effeminate coward — and all this 
in the name of philosophy, science, and Christianity. 

I would be unworthy of my Lord in His great 
goodness to me did I not feel warmly, and repel 
warmly, the attack made upon the Gospel and Ministry 
of Divine Healing: for the progress of Christ's King- 
dom is in no small degree dependent upon their 
triumph in the world. 

But of the final issue there can be no doubt. 

"Oppositions of science, falsely so-called," have 
in all ages led Christian professors to swell the ranks 
of those who have "erred concerning the faith." But 
"the faith" cannot be shaken by false science — it is not 
only unchangeable but imperishable. For that "faith 
once delivered to the saints" I will earnestly contend 
and will "guard that which is committed unto me." 

Suffering millions from beds of pain shall not for 
ever appeal in vain to a Church which has, alas, for- 
gotten so long that He "who went about doing good 
and healing all who were oppressed of the devil" is 
still the same Healer and Deliverer: for "Jesus Christ 
is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." 

The doctrine of Divine Healing is not new, or it 
would not be true. 

" 'Tis the old time religion, 

And 'tis good enough for me." . . . 



(Written Jul}) 10, 1886, — forecasts political situation — exhorts to faith- 
fulness^) 

Beloved Wife: 

After my long letter of Wednesday you will not 
expect much today. 

God is very good to me in many ways recently, 
and I feel sure He is leading, and it will be in a way 
to still better work for Him. If He would but graci- 
ously grant us increased means, we could do so much 

333 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

more, even with our present opportunities. 

All I ask for is "enough ;" and although the answer 
is sometimes delayed to the last moment — it always 
comes. 

Amongst my recent letters, I have had one from 
Mr. O — , who went down to Auckland, New Zealand, 
lately, as you will remember. 

He sent me a photo and some lithographic views 
of the recent eruption ; and it seems to me that they 
are of a very serious nature and may be followed by 
volcanic outbreaks on this continent. 

Earthquakes are among the latter day signs; and 
in every sense there are earth tremors about — who can 
tell the moment when the unquenchable fires of hell, 
underlying the Rotomahana of Modern Society here 
and in Europe, will burst forth into the conflagra- 
tion? 

Many in power are now making great display of 
their riches before the eyes of Europe. It is like dis- 
playing diamonds before the covetous hearts and 
greedy eyes of armed brigands. All men are worship- 
ing in society the Australian Golden Fleece; and 
British society, from the Queen down, are doing it 
daily reverence. What if the Bear of Russia, and the 
Eagle of France, and possibly other powers, combine 
to try to steal these jewels and fleeces? They will 
sweep down upon Australia and India, if they can — 
and, then? War is almost as disastrous to the victors, 
as to the vanquished — historical facts prove it often 
to have been ruinous to a people to have been success- 
ful in war. France in this century, and Spain, in 
modern ages, comparatively, are illustrations; and in 
ancient times Rome and Greece, Egypt and Babylonia, 
are proofs that empires built of blood must perish. 
Gladstone is beaten — what next? A Tory Govern- 
ment holding power for seven years, as it may do, 
will probably plunge the Empire into war after war 
in every part of the world and make reforms and re- 

331 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

formers throughout all its provinces to be, in its eyes, 
criminals and rebels. Oh, what Seas of Blood the na- 
tions are nearing! God will preserve His Israel; but 
they will suffer who sin. I feel "Redemption draweth 
nigh :" for the King of kings, whom kings dishonor 
and peoples disown, is coming. Therefore the terrible 
days are coming. Now let us continue the cry, "Be- 
hold the Bridegroom cometh !" We must tell men 
everywhere to be "ready" — spirit, soul, and body — for 
His coming; and we must be sure we are ourselves. 

"The time is short;" and we must well employ it. 
God willing, we shall spend the last three months of 
this year in revisiting New South Wales, and in New 
Zealand, and Tasmania, in a Salvation, Healing and 
Holiness Mission ; and I can see plainly God is so lead- 
ing. We are being thrust out, as well as led out, and 
called out; and, perhaps, the permanent establishment 
(humanly speaking: for nothing here is permanent) 
of the work in Fitzroy will depend upon our going out. 
This is becoming very clear to me. On Thursday 
night last, I had a similar experience to that which 
we had in October, 1884, before we went out on our 
first Faith Healing Mission to Ballarat — you need no 
description : for we can never forget "the lights." 
Had you any special experience on the same night — 
say about 1 o'clock on Friday morning last? My bed- 
room was full of glory, and there's more to follow. 
Pray over all this matter, and look upward with increas- 
ing faith, go forward with brighter hope, and let us 
work with more self-denying, self-consuming love — 
God's faith, God's hope, God's love. We are working 
for God and for eternity — what higher calling can 
there be than this which we have in Christ? He has 
a work for us such as we have never dreamed of, if 
we are only faithful. 

Quite unusual has been the leisure hour which 
has enabled me to write the foregoing, which is but 
a little of what I would like dearly to talk to you 

332 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

about. I sometimes do so want you so much to be 
here. We have been so much together these last four 
years, and for the first five of our married life, that 
separation comes hard. I miss you most when some 
heavy piece of work is done, and I want a quiet hour 
with you. And perhaps you miss me, too ; and our 
re-union will be the sweeter, if we do all God's will 
shows us whilst we are apart for a few weeks longer. 
"Life is to do the will of God," someone has said. 
All else is Sin and Death. 

The work goes on in every department, and I 
keep "pegging away." We had some good temper- 
ance, salvation, and healing cases this week. 

A million kisses for yourself and our darling; and 
with kind remembrance to all, I am, 

Ever yours in lore in the Lord, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



{Written July 17, 1886 — tells of strange unveiling of his own nature 
— able to penetrate into thoughts of others.) 

Beloved Wife : 

I write these lines just in time to catch the mail 
by going on board the steamer. I have had a wondrous 
week in conection with the healing work, and a new 
gift of the Holy Spirit, and new light on the whole 
subject of the mystery of life in Christ, has quite 
suddenly been given to me. I cannot write about 
it; but I should like to talk heart to heart with you 
just now. Do come home again not later than 
Wednesday week — I cannot do without you any 
longer. It is all so strange; I can see as spirits — 
God's "ministering spirits" do. Four times in two 
days, I was able to penetrate into the deepest, most 
secret thoughts of four separate men ; and that after a 
night of strange unveiling of my own nature by the 
Word and Spirit of God. 

I have not had an average of more than four hours' 

333 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

sleep out of every twenty-four ; but I am not only well, 
but look it, and feel stronger in every way than during 
any former period of my life. It is a fresh baptism 
of "Power from on High;" and I am sure it is given 
me for witness and for service. I am so firm, cool, 
-calm ; but so changed in feeling. Wave after wave of 
Holy Power has come upon me, and it remains. All 
else seems trivial compared to this. Christ is unspeak- 
ably dearer, clearer, and nearer to me in all things. 
Abraham's God is mine; and I will, God helping me, 
be faithful as he was. Pray for me, for yourself, for 
all whom we love, and who love us. If you are like 
Sarah of old, we shall have a glorious future here and 
hereafter. 

Abraham and Sarah were the Friends of God — 



are we 



Christ says we are. Do not let us fear, but love. 
When you return I want to tell you all that has 
happened, since Friday week — I cannot write it. 

Externally, work has gone on very busily during 
the days, and early parts of the nights. I have had a 
continued rush of visitors and ran away from them 
yesterday — yet I saw nineteen yesterday forenoon and 
evening. 

I have been praying for your healing, and I am 
sure you have got it — is it not so? Come back strong. 
I am, 

Forever yours in love Divine, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Written to an "auld Covenanter") 

Many thanks for your kind message from an "auld 
Covenanter," and your kind gift, the Treasurer's re- 
ceipt for which I inclose herewith. I, too, am of the 
Scotch Covenanter stock, and our family suffered 
with "patience" for Christ's Crown and Covenant in 
the days of Claverhouse and earlier. Some of my 

334 



THE PEESONAL LETTEE8 OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

ancestors devised, in dark days, the crest and its motto 
which is at the head of this page, and from my child- 
hood I have asked God to enable me to carry, like the 
dove, (emblem of the Holy Spirit) with unwearied 
constancy, the olive branch (emblem of Gospel Peace) 
of God to weary hearts over the sea of life. Amidst 
many dangers and trials this is our one great aim, 
and I am grateful to all whom God moves to help us 
in our work for Christ. 

May the grand and holy fire of our fathers burn 
more brightly in our hearts and lives — the fire of zeal 
for God's glory, and of love for our Lord and King; 
and may you and all your dear ones join above that 
glorious company of all who have faithfully witnessed 
for Jesus throughout all the ages, as did our fathers 
who sealed their testimony with their blood in the 
hills and glens of dear old Scotia 



(Written to a friend.) 

.... In default of news, I will give you another 
hymn which I wrote on Saturday evening last. My 
favorite tune "Praise" will go to it. 

Approach, my soul, with reverent love, 
Gather the manna from above, 

Rained daily down for thee: 
Eternal food, so freely given, 
Gives sweetest antipast of heaven, 

Wherever thou mayest be. 

Dost thou the weary desert tread, 
Thirsty, with scorching sun o'er head? 

Behold Him at the well! 
Art tempest tossed on wintry sea? 
Stilled are its waves ; O mystery : 

He doeth all things well. 

335 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

Dear Saviour, cast out all my fear, 
Be Thou my only comfort here, 

My Anchor, firm and sure! 
Daily renew my strength in Thine, 
Let all Thy will be wholly mine,- 

Thus shall I be secure. 



(On board S. S. "Rotorna" at sea from TaraneJf to Nelson, Nev> 
Zealand, April 25, 1888 — Leaves of Healing launched.) 

Dear Brother in Christ: 

Your very welcome letter reached me on 16th inst., 
on my return to Auckland with Mrs. Dowie, after a 
journey of about fifteen hundred miles down and up 
the east coast of these islands, during which we had 
very interesting, important, and successful meetings 
with the Associations which we formed, by the grace 
of God, last year. 

We found much need for our visit: for the work 
had got into unholy hands, and the Associations were 
being used to serve personal interests by some few 
misguided persons. But they are now all on a healthier 
footing, and the evil leaven has been removed, so far 
as men can see at present. Many new members have 
been added — thirty on Monday evening last in Auck- 
land alone, and the Associations are unanimously with 
us. 

A new magazine, "Leaves of Healing," of which 
I enclose a prospectus, is about to be published for all 
the Australasian Associations and I want you and all 
the friends to subscribe and get as many subscribers 
as possible. 

We hope the Lord will greatly use the magazine; 
and all our friends will keep in constant touch with 
us through its pages, as well as with each other. I 
hope to get the first monthly issue nearly ready by 
the time I leave Christ Church on May 14th for Auck- 

336 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

land and proceed, after a few meetings, on our journey- 
to America per "Mariposa," leaving there on Monday, 
May 21st, and due in San Francisco Lord's Day, June 
10th 

A very severe storm began whilst I was writing 
the foregoing, and compelled me to desist; but we are 
now this morning safely in the harbour, and the sea 
all around is looking so calm and beautiful: the high 
mountains around the Bay, some of them capped with 
snow, are like giant sentinels over the bright blue 
waters which reflect their glory. 

We much need the Lord to send us "the silver 
and the gold" required for what lies immediately be- 
fore us; and we do not doubt for a moment but what 
it is coming in His own good way and time. Keep 
on praying for us, and watch against the Tempter as- 
sailing you from within the church. Does it not 
seem incredible that John, "the disciple whom Jesus 
loved," who was received by our Lord into the clos- 
est intimacy, should have been insulted and rejected 
by a Diotraphes in his old age, a fellow minister, a 
leading member, probably of a church which the apos- 
tle himself had founded? Then should I wonder if I 
also suffer from such a person? But they are not of 
God. "Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but 
that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: 
and he that doeth evil hath not seen God." 

With Christian love to you all, I am, 

Ever yours in Jesus, 

John Alexander Dowie. 



(Excerpt from a letter written to a friend in 1888.) 

.... I have no love of restless change, and that 
which I do is given to me of God, and is a part of my 
ministry in the Lord, as the facts of my life have 
abundantly proved. The one fact that He sustains me 
in the course which I pursue is of itself a proof: for 

337 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

I have gone out entirely without financial resources, 
and have undertaken work which has cost me ten 
times any ordinary minister's salary every year. But 
"he who excuses, accuses," so says the French pro- 
verb, and so I will not excuse my course of life and 
ministry, neither can I expect others to understand 
it, since they have no knowledge of the inner as well 
as the outer facts which vindicate that course. I have 
learned to leave personal vindications with the Lord, 
and I never defend myself against the countless at- 
tacks which have appeared against me in the press, 
having only written once to a newspaper in five years 
to correct misrepresentations. I have defended the 
truth committed to my charge, but at no time have I 
ever cared to defend myself as a personal matter. God 
is my Judge. He never makes mistakes, and He cor- 
rects all the false, and mistaken, judgments of men. 
Oh, it is good to know that He alone sits on the 
Throne ! 

Many persons cannot understand that a man does 
not need to belong to a denomination to be a Christian, 
or to be a sworn member of a secret or semi-secret so- 
ciety to be a good citizen, and a social reformer. My 
faith in Christ is broader than the limits of a sect, and 
my love for humanity forbids my being narrowed 
down to a mere spoke in a social or political wheel of 
fortune, turned to and fro at the pleasure of clever 
men or women, who talk of the wideness of their 
charity, but limit it to the cut of their clothes in some 
cases, or to the grip of their hand, or to their uttering 
some shibboleth. There is very little real independ- 
ence of thought, and still less of action, in the things 
of to-day, and both church and state and reform move- 
ments have come to copy the German Army Regula- 
tions too closely, and have got a good way off from 
the liberty wherewith Christ has made His people 
free. 

Do not imagine that I am averse to organization, 

338 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

for it is the great need of the church and of the world. 
I would go right back to the organization in 1 Corin- 
thians 12, and have every particle of it, and all the 
gifts, once more in harmonious, ecclesiastical, orderly 
operation ; and there is none other that will do 



(Written in 1888 — tribute to his rvife — longs for old apostolic times — 
deplores lac\ of authority in modern churches — rvould not return to old 
a>ap of "settling" — full of confidence and hope.) 

.... Jeanie is invaluable in seeing the sick with me, 
and is an excellent helper in every way. We are very 
good friends, and don't have any serious difficulties, 
for we are the Lord's servants as well as husband and 
wife. I have every cause to be grateful to God for my 
wife. 

We shall rest at home bye and bye, and will be able 
to talk with you on the deep things of God, and the 
practical things concerning His kingdom on Earth, 
which is now becoming clearer and clearer to me, and 
yet there is much that we do not know. Oh, for the 
old apostolic times, when the Timothys and the Tituses 
could find their Pauls, and be led by Divinely ap- 
pointed men. I love the thought of the old apostolic 
rule and would rejoice to see it established once again, 
for what is needed above all things is first LOVE, and 
then AUTHORITY of the most absolute kind in mat- 
ters of church work. There is no real authority any 
where. Rome is apostate, and the churches are all 
split up, apart from each other, and divided within 
themselves. The attempt to settle things by confer- 
ences and synods and councils is failing, for no one 
has any real consciousness that these are any real 
power at all, or that the Holy Spirit is owning them. 
"Come from the Four Winds, Oh Breath, and breathe 
upon these slain that they may live." 

.... If I desired to "settle," as it is called, I could 
do so in any one of a score of places, to say the least, 

339 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

and there are friends and correspondents in England 
who are pressing me to go there, and who offer me a 
headquarters' free in one of the best parts of that coun- 
try, near to Halifax. We are in the Lord's hands en- 
tirely as to the future, as we have been in the past. 
We have had many temptations and not a few severe 
trials of faith, indeed we have them all the time, in 
one form or another, but I would not return to the old 
way of "settling" for all the gold of Ophir. We have 
the entire freedom and independence which would be 
impossible, if we were to be dependent on the caprices 
of small-minded deacons or impudent and ignorant, 
purse-proud members of churches, who look upon 
the minister as a salaried servant, not of the Lord Je- 
sus Christ, but of their little syndicate, which it might 
be more appropriate to spell with an i rather than y. 
The Lord never sent forth His servants in this way 
when He was here on earth, and He has never left any 
other way of sending them out but at His charges. 
It would be a strange thing for an Ambassador to be 
sent forth by any Government with the declaration 
that he was to be dependent upon the people of the 
country to whom he was sent, for a living. Every 
Government provides for its Ambassador from its own 
resources ; and so does God. Paul lived of the Gospel, 
but he never was dependent upon the people, and 
rather than be that he laboured with his own hands. 
The Lord provided, and all the Messengers went 
forth in simple Faith that He would so provide. 
When they returned they were able to say that they 
"lacked nothing." If we are faithful, we shall be able 
to say the same, and, if not, then we have failed some- 
where and in something: for "God is faithful." 

340 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

"We do not covet earthly store, 

Beyond a day's supply; 

We only covet more and more, 

The clear and single eye, 

To see our duty face to face, 

And trust the Lord for daily grace." 

And so we go on with our hearts singing, not with- 
out temptations and attacks from the Enemy who 
would fain make us fear if he could; but able thus far 
to say that we have never yielded to these temptations, 
and that God has been with us all the way as JEHO- 
VAH-JIREH, according to promise. 

I tell you these things, because they are the very 
essence of our life, and all the other things which 
happen are because we are enabled by the Holy Spir- 
it's power to trust in the word of our Lord, and to do 
His will according to our light. For this also we 
praise God, and give Him all the glory, from whom is 
all the Power. 

... It is worth all the toil and trial and ten thou- 
sand times more, to have the real and unmistakable 
experiences of the years now passing by, so full of 
confidence and so full of hope and love do they make 
my life, giving me the needed grace for trials and 
toils and victories yet to come. The sense of all this 
being a kind of preparatory school, is one that in- 
creases steadily in my heart as the years go by. They 
whiten my hair, and put new furrows in my face, but 
my heart grows younger, and my faith is stronger 
and simpler, my hope is brighter, and above all my 
love is purer, for all these are more and more clearly 
Divine, His Faith, His Hope, His Love, and how 
could my heart be anything else but younger? Life 
has fewer real perplexities, and the solution of human 
difficulties is so clearly to be found in Christ alone 
that I have no other thought than just to get to know 
what He said, and did, and willed, and that is the path, 

341 



THE PEKSONAL LETTEKS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

and that alone, for me and for all the world beside. 
Whosoever says otherwise is a fool or a scoundrel, 
and perhaps both. I never did have any faith in what 
Tennyson calls "honest doubt," for I have always 
felt that to doubt our Lord Jesus Christ for a moment 
was a mean and dishonest thing, and now I never 
give it any quarter. It always arises from Sin, and 
oftentimes from very filthy forms of Sin. The Church 
needs to remember that NOW God "commandeth 
men everywhere to REPENT." God is with me as 
I preach Repentance as the foundation of the Gospel, 
and this is the fundamental in all our preaching. Sal- 
vation through Faith are all impossibilities to an 
impenitent sinner. People do not like to be told this, 
and that only confirms its truth and the necessity for 
preaching it. Tens of thousands of persons are en- 
tering into fellowship with the Church who have never 
entered into fellowship with God, for they have never 
repented of Sin, and God never forgives those who do 
not repent. It is an impossibility. 



{From the first copy of Leaves of Healing, issued June 1, 1888 — "a 
monthly Australian magazine for the promotion of healing and holiness 
through faith in Jesus" — tells of farervell meetings, after sixteen years of 
ministry in Australia, upon his departure for America.) 

It seems fitting that this record of our present and 
future work should have, for a link with our past work 
for the Lord, some account of the closing scenes of 
our nearly sixteen years of ministry in Australia. There- 
fore, I will refer to our Farewell Meetings in the 
Free Christian Tabernacle in Fitzroy, Melbourne, of 
which I had charge from its erection in 1884, and, I 
may add, the Church meeting therein had recognised 
me as its pastor from its formation by myself, in Feb- 
ruary, 1883. It was no little grief to part from the dear 
people whose love and loyalty to me had stood the se- 
verest tes'ts which Satan could devise, and who had 
never failed in unswerving fidelity to Christ's laws, 

342 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

even to "bonds and imprisonments," seeking to save 
the perishing on every side. But their love to God 
stood the strain of my resignation in November, 1887 ; 
and after long meetings for prayer, one an all-night 
with Jesus, both amongst the office-bearers and the 
people, a resolution, amidst many tears was unanim- 
ously passed on the evening of November 4, 1887, 
agreeing to accept my resignation, with expressions of 
loving regard similar to those afterwards embodied 
in an address hereafter referred to, but requesting that 
I should not retire for at least three months. Accord- 
ingly, I yielded to their wish, and my resignation, 
although accepted, was arranged not to take effect 
until February 19, 1888, on which date I announced 
I would preach my farewell sermons. Meanwhile, 
many precious seasons of spiritual communion were 
vouchsafed to us; and opportunities of witnessing to- 
gether for Christ. One of these seasons was the Fifth 
Annual Commemoration of our Ministry of Healing 
through Faith in Jesus, which was held in the Taber- 
nacle on Lord's Day 4th (three public meetings), and 
on Monday, 5th December last (one meeting). 

Full reports of these four meetings have been pub- 
lished (M. L. Hutchinson, 15, Collins Street W., Mel- 
bourne,) in the form of a Record, which contains over 
seventy testimonies from those healed, taken down 
at the moment by a shorthand writer on the staff of 
one of the Melbourne morning daily newspapers, whose 
name is given. This Record has been much used of 
God, and, as nearly the whole of the first edition of 
3,500 copies have been disposed of, it is our intention 
to reprint it (D. V.) in America. We thank our 
Lord, and one of His servants who bore the entire 
cost of printing and publishing it, that our last An- 
nual Commemoration in Australia was so graciously 
used ; for many have been led to the Lord as Saviour, 
Healer, and Sanctifier through its pages, wherein 
witness after witness declares that He is healing 

343 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

"every manner of sickness and every manner of disease 
among the people." 

Then on the eve of the Centennial Day of Australia, 
January 21st last, we had an Ordination of Elders at 
midnight, and a most solemn and impressive All-night 
of Prayer and Teaching in the ever-to-be-remembered 
Healing-room attached to the Tabernacle, when two 
beloved ones, Elders Joseph Grierson and John S. Wal- 
lington, were ordained, having been most manifestly 
"separated" for this work for some time by the Holy 
Spirit who had used them to many of God's sick ones 
in my frequent absences during the last two years. 
It is important to notice that the Holy Spirit first 
calls, then separates, and then ordains Christ's ser- 
vants to the various offices in His Church — See Acts 
i. 15-26, and Acts xiii. 1-4, concerning the call to the 
first and most important of all offices in the Church 
(1 Cor. xii. 28), the office of "apostle." 

No greater misery can ever happen to a man than 
to be rashly ordained of men to any office in the 
Church to which the Holy Spirit has not already 
called and separated him, and it is a source of endless 
confusion among God's people, and a stumbling-block 
to the world, who mock, not without justice, at the 
impotence of man-made elders whom foolish or de- 
signing men have ordained. 

On Lord's Day, February 19th last, just five years 
from the date of my forming the Church in the Fitzroy 
Town Hall, I preached my three last sermons in the 
Tabernacle, and closed my pastorate there with the 
blessed ordinance of the Lord's Supper, the most 
glorious of all the Church's memorial services, look- 
ing backward to the Cross, looking upward to the 
Throne, and looking forward to the Blessed Hope of 
His Coming. Oh, how sweet and rich in heavenly 
blessing is it to meet with the Lord at His Table. Why 
do so many of His beloved ones neglect it, or infre- 
quently appear at it? Is it not because so many por- 

344 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

tions of His Church only spread it once a month, or 
at even longer intervals, instead of following the 
beautiful practice of the Church in its primitive glory 
and power, when "upon the first day of the week (not 
of the month or quarter) we were gathered together 
to break bread" — Acts xx. 7. 

We made that the occasion upon which I formally 
laid down my office as pastor, commending them to 
the Chief Shepherd at His own Table, and "so de- 
parted." But on the following Tuesday our dear 
people and many Christian friends met tegether in the 
Tabernacle under the presidency of a highly honoured 
brother, Mr. Elijah Stranger, and the following was 
presented to me, accompanied with a cheque for 
100 pounds. 

"Address to the Rev. John Alex. Dowie, on the 
"occasion of his retiring from the Pastorate 
"of the Free Christian Church, Johnston 
"Street, Fitzroy, on the eve of his departure 
"to America and Europe, to engage in the 
"Divine Healing Mission, to which the Holy 
"Spirit has called him. 

"Free Christian Tabernacle, Fitzroy, 

"Melbourne, Victoria, 
21st February, 1888. 
"Rev. and dear Sir: — 

"We, the office-bearers and members of the Free 
"Christian Church, Fitzroy, with a large number of 
"Christian sympathisers from different parts of the 
"Australian Colonies and New Zealand, beg to present 
"this testimonial as a very small token of the love 
"and appreciation borne toward you for your untiring 
"and devoted zeal in bringing very many in these 
"lands from darkness into God's marvellous light, and 
"for the promotion of Divine Healing. You have been 
"made the Divine agent in doing many mighty works. 
"The Lord has, in a most manifest manner, heard your 

345 



THE PEESONAL LETTEES OF JOHN ALEXANDEE DOWIE 

"prayer of faith, and raised up many, in some cases 
"more than ten thousand miles distant. Truly, the 
"Lord has made you a chosen vessel, in leading hun- 
dreds, by your teaching from His Holy Word, to the 
"sanctification of spirit, soul, and body. We cannot 
"even estimate the number blessed under your min- 
istry, — eternity alone will reveal them — but we know 
"that hundreds, who have been both saved and healed, 
"regret, as we do, your departure from these shores. 
"The loss of your spiritual exhortations, your kindly 
"counsels, and your faithful prayers, will be deeply 
"felt throughout Australasia; but your Church and 
"people have felt, from the date of your letter of the 
"16th April, 1885, to the London International Con- 
"ference on Divine Healing, held at the Agricultural 
"Hall, London, June 1st to 5th, 1885, till now, that 
"the Holy Spirit was leading you to visit America and 
"Europe, to preach Christ as the Saviour and Sanctifier 
"of the spirit, soul, and body, and we submit to the 
"will of our Heavenly Father, and pray that you may 
"be used and blessed to a far greater extent than you 
"have been, and that, if it be His will, you shall return 
"again to this land. 

"We herewith subscribe our names, on behalf of 
the above, 

"JOHN SAMUEL WALLINGTON, 

"JOSEPH GRIERSON, 

Elders." 

We shall never forget the kind words thus spoken 
to us, and will treasure the beautiful illuminated ad- 
dress in its handsome covering, which so fittingly en- 
folds them. 

But loving words came from all sides, and when 
many had spoken, a gentleman left his seat and ad- 
vancing to the chairman, asked him to present us with 
a very beautiful Revised Version Bible, as a token of 
love and gratitude. He had been blessed in the Taber- 

346 



THE PERSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

nacle, and healed of a deadly cancer in his face. It 
was nearly midnight ere we could leave the building, 
where large numbers of eager friends crowded around 
us, not for the last time, for one more season was to 
be given to us of still deeper and sweeter communion 
with the Lord and our dear people there. 

The next few days were largely spent in all the 
many duties and toils inseparable from the private 
affairs of this life, in disposing of our few worldly 
goods, "in doing things honestly in the sight of all 
men," and in preparing Our Little Pilgrim Band of 
Five for our long journeys and voyages. I may be 
permitted here to say that our two little ones accom- 
pany us on our travels, my son aged 11 years, and my 
daughter aged 7, and I would earnestly ask the 
prayers of all our friends in Christ everywhere for 
these dear children, and that we may be enabled to 
educate and train them up "in the admonition and 
fear of the Lord," amidst the many special difficulties 
which will attend this important duty. We felt it 
was quite impossible to leave them behind us for 
so long and uncertain a period of missionary journey- 
ing, and, therefore, we felt led of the Spirit to take 
them with us, believing the beautiful words of Joseph 
(Genesis 1. 21) find a sweet fulfillment in Jesus, and are 
His words to us — "Now, therefore, fear ye not : I will 
nourish you and your little ones." 

Again I say, beloved, "Pray for us daily." It 
will be an inexpressible comfort to know that you are 
so engaged, not only in your gatherings together but 
in your homes, around the family altar : for your faith- 
ful prayers shall be answered by our faithful God. 

Friday, March 2nd, we held in the Tabernacle, 
Fitzroy, our last meeting with our dear people and 
many Christian friends from other Churches. It was 
a Farewell Consecration and Communion Service, 
and a time of great searching power, and of holy fire. 
During three hours, from 8 to 11 p. m., we sought 

347 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

the Lord for wisdom and knowledge, spreading 
Thessalonians 1 :5 before us ; and expounding it to those 
whom we were now so soon to part from, many of 
whom are our own children in the faith. Verses 22 to 
24, formed our closing exhortation ere the Table of the 
Lord was brought forth. Then we gathered around, 
and sought to see His face, and hear His voice. And 
not in vain: for in eternity we shall praise Him for 
the parting blessing then received. 

"Till He come" was then sung, and as we went 
homeward in the stillness and the starlight of the mid- 
night hour, we could hear the loved voices still sing- 
ing the words: — 

"Sweet memorials, — till the Lord 
Calls us round His heavenly board, 
Some from earth, from glory some, 
Severed only, 'Till he come !' " 

How often we have read the words, "and when 
they (the Lord and His first apostles) had sung a 
hymn, they went out unto the Mount of Olives." How 
we have longed to hear the voice and see the face of 
Him who led that song, ere He went forth to suffer 
and to die. Down through the ages its echoes still are 
ringing, and "the ransomed of the Lord" still "come 
with singing unto Zion." As we looked upward in 
that beautiful night, we saw the "many mansions" of 
light shining in the boundless vault of the heavens 
above. They seemed to us, like heavenly silent 
singers, forming, from the Southern Cross, a glorious 
pathway of stars through all the Milky Way, with 
jewelled steps, upwards and onwards to the centre 
of all things — the Throne of God. And then Daniel's 
words of prophecy came to us poor Pilgrims of the 
Night, who were about to go forth to all the earth 
with Words of Life and Light and Love to countless 
sufferers who are fainting and groaning in pain on 
their earthly journey to Zion above — "They that be 

348 



THE PEKSONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; 
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars 
for ever and ever." And we were comforted: for the 
way of wisdom was lying clearly before us, and we 
knew our Guide, the unerring Spirit of God, would 
lead us in the steps of Him who sang the hymn and 
went forth to open the way of Salvation and Temper- 
ance, of Healing and Holiness to all who will trust 
and follow Him. All was peace, and the night soon 
passed away. 

At mid-day on Saturday, March 3rd, we went on 
board the A. U. S. N. Co.'s S. S. "Maranoa," lying 
at Queen's Wharf, on the River Yarra, in the heart 
of the city, where we had been so tried and so blessed. 
Some hundreds of our friends "accompanied us to the 
ship" where we had a precious time of prayer and 
praise; and so amidst hymns and tears and blessings 
from grateful hearts we sailed away down the river 
and the bay, away out into the Ocean hearing the 
words, floating on the waters, of our sweet singers as 
we left the shore : — 

'Beyond the swelling floods 
We'll meet to part no more." 

In two days we arrived safely in one of the loveliest 
of all the earthly heavens I have ever seen — the beauti- 
ful harbour of Sydney. 

The voyage had been very stormy until the morn- 
ing of our arrival, but when the sun rose upon the 
giant cliffs of George's Head, a gentle breeze was beat- 
ing over the fair face of the deep blue waters, and 
scenes of entrancing beauty burst upon our gaze, as 
we sailed onward close to the shores of the charm- 
ing Illawarra country. The five islands, the pastoral 
uplands, the fertile cultured plains, and the mountains 
towering over all, with the joyous sea for an ever- 
changing foreground, made a grand picture. Onward 
we sailed past villages and towns which found fitting 
place in the ever-changing panorama. Passing the 



THE PEESONAL LETTERS OF JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE 

southern suburbs of Sydney itself, we sailed close 
under the high rocky steeps which front the ocean, 
and hide the great city beyond them. Then onward 
to the Heads which open out that wondrous channel, 
a narrow gateway of divine grandeur, into a harbour 
of surpassing loveliness stretching away north, 
west, and south on every side for miles into 
bays and coves, where it seems as if all the 
navies of the world might ride at anchor in 
perfect peace. More than one thousand miles of water 
frontage lie, I am told, within these Heads. And 
then how wondrous the effects of sun and sea upon 
these scenes of beauty which unfold as we pass on- 
wards to the city. The green slopes and smooth lawns 
of rich men's homes, embowered amidst trees and 
flowers, mingled with views of virgin forest still re- 
maining on the shores, are passed swiftly by as we 
thread our way onward past the pretty islands which 
are scattered over the lake-like waters. But now the 
city flashes forth from every height, crowned to their 
summits with houses, the homes and business places of 
hundreds of thousands of busy men and women. 
Wharves crowded with ships of all nations appear. 
Spires and towers and domes of great public buildings 
meet the eye in every direction. A great commercial 
city is before us, where a hundred years ago the silence 
of nature reigned, save for the cries of a few savage 
aboriginal tribes — a wondrous transformation. 

But our vessel is soon berthed at the Grafton 
wharf, and we hear salutations of kind friends greeting 
us, who have been watching for our coming. 



350 



The Second Volume of Letters 

of 

JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE, 

with a history of the Zion Movement, is now in course 
of preparation. 



One Volume Incomplete without the Other. 



LIMITED EDITIONS. 



SEND IN YOUR ORDER NOW. 



The Wigham Publishing Co. 

Minneapolis, = - Minnesota 



JAN SO 191: 



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